Potential pitfalls in assessing chloride-induced corrosion of steel in concrete

Electrochemical assessment of the condition of embedded reinforcing bar (rebar) in concrete is being carried out increasingly routinely, both in the laboratory and in the field. However, because of the perceived need to produce results very rapidly, the results may not, in fact, be representative of the actual behaviour of the rebar. This paper describes some of the pitfalls the authors have encountered in their own work and have, therefore, analysed and quantified, together with others which have appeared in the literature.