Condition assessment of selected reinforced concrete structural elements of the bus station in Kielce

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the research aimed at assessing the condition of reinforcement and concrete cover in selected elements of the structure of the most recognizable structure in Kielce, i.e. PKS station, located at Czarnowska Street. Currently, demolition works are underway resulting from the planned modernization. The assessment of the corrosion risk of the reinforcement in the construction elements was carried out with the use of a semi-non-destructive electrochemical method. The use of this method made it possible to determine the probability of reinforcement corrosion in the selected areas and to estimate its rate. The protective properties of concrete cover were checked by the carbonation test (test using a 1% phenolphthalein solution) and phase composition analysis (X-ray diffraction analysis). In order to determine the position of the reinforcing bars and to estimate the concrete cover thickness distribution in the areas corresponding to the aforementioned measurements, ferromagnetic detection system was used.

Diagnostics of Concrete and Steel in Elements of an Historic Reinforced Concrete Structure

“…In the paper [ 64 ], the authors presented the results of chemical tests as well as the measurements by the use of the galvanostatic pulse technique indicating an advanced corrosion process of the reinforcement in the elements of the bridge structure, while the half-cell potential method did not show it. The authors of this paper repeatedly drew similar conclusions from their research [ 23 , 29 , 30 ].…”

“…On the other hand, mechanical damage to the concrete cover (caused by accidents or minor damage accompanying the use of the facility), although visible to the naked eye in the form of cracks and defects, paradoxically often does not indicate an advanced process of structural degradation [ 30 ].…”