Combined Structure Geometry and Anode Placement Effects on Cathodic Protection Effectiveness

An impressed current cathodic protection system was applied to an uncoated test sample. The test sample was chosen to represent an essential right angle feature of a common structure. Anode placement was quantitatively shown to affect the resulting surface polarization distribution. Two distinct types of local polarization depletion zones have been demonstrated. These regions of lesser polarization represent a locally insufficient amount of cathodic protection compared to criteria designated values. Conversely, for geometrically complex structures containing sharp features, the possibility of locally evolving hydrogen gas is also discussed.