A Study on Corrosion Properties of Reinforced Concrete Structures in Subsurface Environment

A concrete silo plays an important role in subsurface low- and intermediate-level waste facilities (LILW) by limiting the release of radionuclides from the silo geosphere. However, due to several physical and chemical processes the performance of the concrete structure decreases over time and consequently the concrete loses its effectiveness as a barrier against groundwater inflow and the release of radionuclides. Although a number of processes are responsible for degradation of the silo concrete, it is determined that the main cause is corrosion of the reinforcing steel. Therefore, the time it takes for the silo concrete to fail is calculated based on two factors: the initiation time of corrosion, defined as the time it takes for chloride ions to penetrate through the concrete cover, and the propagation time of corrosion. This paper aims to estimate the time taken for concrete to fail in a LILW disposal facility. Based on the United States Department of Energy (DOE) approach, which indicates that concrete fails completely once 50% of the volume of the reinforcing steel corrodes, the corrosion propagation time is calculated to be 640 years, which is the time it takes for corrosion to penetrate 0.640 cm into the reinforcing steel. In addition to the corrosion propagation time, a diffusion equation is used to calculate the initiation time of corrosion, yielding a time of 1284 years, which post-dates the closure time of the LILW disposal facility if we also consider the 640 years of corrosion propagation. The electrochemical conditions of the passive rebar surface were modified using an acceleration method. This is a useful approach because it can reduce the test time significantly by accelerating the transport of chlorides. Using instrumental analysis, the physicochemical properties of corrosion products were determined, thereby confirming that corrosion occurred, although we did not observe significant cracks in, or expansion of, the concrete. These results are consistent with those of Smartet al., 2006 who reported that corrosion products are easily compressed, meaning that cracks cannot be discerned by eye. Therefore, it is worth noting that rebar corrosion does not strongly influence the hydraulic conductivity of the concrete.

지중 환경하에서의 철근콘크리트 구조물의 부식 특성 연구

방사성폐기물 처분시설 공학적방벽을 구성하는 콘크리트는 주변 환경의 영향으로 내구 수명에 영향을 받게 된다. 현재까지 개발된 수치해석 모델 및 실험을 통하여 방사성폐기물 처분시설 공학적방벽 소재로 가장 널리 사용되는 콘크리트에 대해 주변환경을 고려하여 그 영향을 살펴보았다. 본 연구에 해당하는 철근 콘크리트 구조물은 지리적으로 해안과 인접한 지하수 포화대에 위치하고 있다. 일반적인 철근콘크리트 구조물의 가장 민감한 열화인자인 염해에 의한 철근부식에 대한 영향을 염화물 확산모델을 이용하여 평가한 결과 철근 부식 개시기간이 1,284년이며, 최종적으로 구조물이 내구수명을 상실하는데 도달하는 시간은 1,924년인 것으로 예측되었다. 또한, Mock-up 실험을 통해 공극분포, 공극률, 부식정도 등 물리화학적 특성을 평가한 결과 콘크리트 내 철근 부식정도는 미비한 것으로 나타나 500년 이상의 상당히 오랜 기간 건전성을 유지할 수 있는 것으로 판단된다.