Numerical simulation and experimental investigation of the stray current corrosion of viaducts in the high-speed rail transit system

• Published in: Construction & building materials 2017-12, Vol.157, p.416-423
• Main Authors: Hong, Yi, Li, Zuohua, Qiao, Guofu, Ou, Jinping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Control; High-speed rail transit; Numerical simulation; Scale model experiments; Steel corrosion; Stray current corrosion; Viaducts
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.09.114

•The numerical simulation model of whole viaduct in the high-speed rail transit system has been established.•Effectiveness of the numerical simulation method has been verified by the real scaled-viaduct experiments.•Mechanism of the stray current damage on the reinforced steel, concrete and interface has been clarified. The stray current corrosion coupled with fatigue can degrade the durability of viaducts in the high-speed rail transit system. To investigate the distribution status of the stray current field in the viaducts, the numerical simulation algorithm is established based on the finite element methods. Then, the corrosion development of steel bar with that of the stray current located at the anodic and cathodic regions is discussed in detail. Furthermore, the viaduct model is casted to verify the effectiveness of numerical simulation algorithm for the stray current field distribution. The results indicate that the simulation algorithm of stray current can provide the key basis for the safety assessment, maintenance and reinforcement, and the performance based design of the viaducts in high-speed rail transit system.