Corrosion assessment using ground penetrating radar in reinforced concrete structures : influential factors and analysis methods

Abstract

Reinforcement corrosion is a common cause of damage in concrete structures, resulting in cracking and spalling of the surrounding concrete. Recently, ground penetrating radar (GPR) has become the primary non-destructive testing (NDT) for examining the corrosiveness of concrete structures. However, the analysis of GPR data can be intricate and time-consuming due to a range of factors affecting GPR waves. To this end, this paper presents a systematic review of influential factors and analysis methods for GPR-based corrosion assessment in concrete structures. The review analysis found that corrosion boosts the reflected waves' amplitude by propagating rust into concrete cracks, while the simultaneous presence of chloride and moisture severely attenuates the amplitude and frequency of electromagnetic waves. In addition, B-scans analysis is more thorough but also subjective and time-consuming and lacks for comprehensive methodology to automate its process. Thereafter, this study offers insights for improving the efficiency of GPR-based corrosion assessment.