CONTROL OF

CORROSION ON
UNDERWATER PILES
1. OM PRAKASH 2 . FA I YA Z A L I
G A N G A IN S T I T U T E O F T E C H N O L O G Y & M A N A G E ME N T
O P B H A RT I 2 1 @ G M A I L . C O M
 
 ABSTRACT
Piles are structure used to transfer loads from superstructure to sub surface strata. When
then the substructure stratum is water based or if we deal with a hydraulic structure, the piles
are to be driven into water and underwater strata.
 Piles used in underwater structure are often subjected to corrosion. There is no absolute way
to eliminate all corrosion: but corrosion protection measures are employed to control the
effect of corrosion.
Corrosion protections can be in different way according to the environment and other factor.
Forms of corrosion protection include the use of inhibitors, surface treatments, coatings and
sealants, cathodic protection and anodic protection.
The control measure explains in the this are protective coating, cathodic treatment
and application of Fiber Re-enforced polymer composite.
 INTRODUCTION
Corrosion is the destructions of metals and alloy by the chemical reactions with the
environment.
corrosion may be regarded as the reverses process of extraction of metal from ores.
In the automotive industry, metal parts are often plated or coated to protect them from
road salt and moisture in hopes of increasing their longevity.
many traditional metals part are currently being used with polymeric component. which are
not only lighter but also costlier effective to produce.
Even with the proper selections of base metal and well-designed system or structure, there
is no absolute ways to eliminates all corrosions.
Corrosion protection can be in a numbers of different form/strategy with perhaps multiple
method apply in severe environment.
 Corrosion Mechanism Of Steel In Sea Water

On steel piling in seawater, the more chemically active surfaces area (anodes)
are metallically coupled through the piling itself to the less chemically actives
surfaces area (cathodes) resulting in a flows of electricity and corrosions of the
anodic area.
General surface roughening occurs when these local anodic and cathodic areas
continually shift about randomly during the corrosion process.
Sometimes these active local areas do not shift position end, therefore, the
metal suffers localized attack and pitting occurs.
In general, the depth of pitting is related to the ratio of the anodic sites to the
area of cathodic site in contact with the electrolyte (seawater).
 Zones of corrosion of steel piles

Examination of corrode marine pile reveal several distinct area of attacks. It is convenient to
divide these areas into five zones, each having a characteristic corrosion rate as shown in Figure
CORROSION PROTECTION METHODS

Protective Coating In order to protect metals from corrosion, the contact between
the metal and the corrosive environment is to be cut off.
Surface coatings are broadly classified into three :
(a) Metallic coatings
(b) Inorganic Coatings
(c) Organic Coatings
The different types of coatings used for under water piles are:
(A) Inorganic zinc silicates primers
(B) High build epoxy coatings
 CATHODIC PROTECTION
The preferred techniques for mitigating engineering talent. A protective circuits
marine corrosions, based on historical accomplishing between the anode, steel
performances and measurable result, is (cathode), power supplies and electrolyte
cathodic protection (CP). (seawater).
The practice of using electrochemical
reaction to prevent the corrosions of
steel structure.
 In theory and practice, the
implementation of a CP system is quite
simple. Assuming you already have
corroding steel in seawater, all you need
is an anode, a power supply, and
 A TYPICAL ANODE DELIVERY
SYSTEM
Pile mounted anodes are designed for around pilings where the complex
efficient current distribution in and geometry of the facility precludes
around pilings where the complex remote placement of the anodes.
geometry of the facility precludes These delivery systems are suitable for
remote placement of the anodes. direct attachment to pilings.
These delivery systems are suitable for
direct attachment to pilings.
(A) Pile mount anode
Pile mounted anodes are designed for
efficient current distribution in and
 TYPICAL ANODE DELIVERY
SYSTEM
(B) Disk anode :-The disk anode was the anode for periodic maintenance, or
designs in conjunctions with the U.S. when currents are only requiring on a
Army Construction Engineering periodic basis, the retractable anode
Research Lab for use on navigation lock allow the users to easily retrieves the
and dam gate. This anode system is also anode. The above illustration is rotated
suitable for use on seawater intake by 90 degrees.
structures, vessel internals, and sheet
piling when shore side access is
possible.
(C) Retractable mounts :-For installation
where it is deeming necessary to access
APPLICATION OF FRP COMPOSITES
Fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) have be multi-directional and speed of
long been used for the repair and strength restoration critically
retrofit of concrete structural elements. important.
Their lightweight, high strength and
resistance to chemicals offer obvious
benefits.
In fabric form, they provide
unparalleledflexibility.
This makes FRP particularly suited for
emergency repairs where damage can
 CASE STUDY FOR APPLICATION OF
FRP COMPOSITES
(A) Preparatory work
 Pile surfaces were cover with marine growths that had to be scrape off.
Additionally, two of the four corners that were not rounded but chamfered had to
be ground using an air-powered grinder.
This was a difficult operation particularly for section that were below the water line.
All piles wrap was 50.8 cm x 50.6 m (20 in. x 20 in.) reinforced concrete piles and
wrapped over a depths of 1.5 m that extend all the ways to the underside of the pile
caps.
 The waters are approximately 4.88 m (16 ft.) deep. This meant that ladders could no
longer be used to apply the FRP in this situation.
 (B)Instrumentation

Instrumentation was installed to allow linear polarization and corrosion potential

measurements to be made.
An innovative instrumentation schemes was developing that eliminate the need for
wiring and junction box.
FRP wrapping - Two different schemes using two different materials were evaluated.
In each scheme four piles were wrapped with two other instrumented piles serving
as controls.
A shrinkage wrap was applied at the end to allow the FRP to cure.
On an average, it took between 30 minute to 45 minute to wrap a piles over a 1.5 m
depths depending on the numbers of layers of material that had to be applied.
 CONCLUSION

Though there is no absolute way to eliminate all corrosion on under water piles,
there are some effective measures to control them.
The cathodic protection is found to be quite simple to employ and mostly used in
marine conditions.
The protective coatings are used in vast and expensive structures.
The FRP composites have many advantages over conventional methods such that
they are light weight, possess high strength and chemical resistance and moreover
have incomparable flexibility.
Of the various way of wrapping of FRP composite, transverse wrapping is founding
to be the easiest as otherwise, the longitudinal pieces awkward to handles and
difficult to positions.
 REFERENCES

[1]. R. Sen, G. Mullins, K. Suh and D. Winters: „FRP application in underwater repair of corroded
pipes‟, 7th International Symposium on Fibre Reinforced Polymer Reinforcement for Reinforced
Concrete Structures, November 7-10, 2005 New Orleans Marriott.
[2]. Underwater steel structures: inspection, repair and maintenance.
[3]. Marine cathodic protection
[4]. L. Van Damme, W. Vreulst: „Low Water Corrosion Of Steel Pilings‟, Pianc Bulletin
No.101,1999.