Corrosion in Civil Engineering

Cracked prestressed steel (large-scale picture)

The durability of structures requires adequate corrosion protection of the components in order to ensure their reliability and performance during the entire lifetime. The division investigates the corrosion behaviour of metallic materials under practical conditions, examines corrosion protection systems with respect to the coating materials and determines the causes of corrosion failures especially regarding maintenance and repair of structures. Research and development work aim at increasing the knowledge about the corrosion behaviour of metals and corrosion protection systems, the improvement of testing and examination methods as well as answering standardisation-relevant questions.

Areas of competence

Corrosion behaviour of high-alloyed steels

• Consultancy about material selection
• Outdoor weathering tests and tests in artificial climates
• Metallographic examinations
• Failure analysis

Corrosion in reinforced and prestressed concrete structures

• Monitoring and evaluation of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures with respect to corrosion and corrosion damage
• Analysis of structural damage due to corrosion of the reinforing steel
• Development, evaluation and testing of sensor systems for corrosion monitoring.

Electrochemical methods

• Investigation of corrosion behaviour of materials, protection systems and components
• Current density-potential-curves, impedance spectroscopy, polarization resistance, potential measurement
• Development of new testing and examination methods

Research activities

AiF research project IGF-Nr.: 17076 N/1 Conductive coatings as anodes for CP.
Contact: gino.ebell@bam.de, phone: +49 30 8104-4353

AiF research project IGF-Nr.: 17136 N/1 Detection of stainless steel surfaces susceptible to corrosion by the manufacturers.
Contact: jens.lehmann@bam.de, phone: +49 030 8104-3222

Technical equipment

Technical equipment of Division 6.1  

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