Numerical modeling of accelerated chloride transport in concrete

The paper contains a model of penetration and electrically accelerated extraction of chlorides from a reinforced concrete structure. A numerical framework is formulated based on the Fick’s law, Nernst-Planck equation and Gauss law of electrostatics. Finite element approximation and the Galerkin-Petrov approach is used to solve the task. A sample calculation of extraction of chlorides from a bridge deck taking into account several solution stages like developing of chloride profile by diffusion, calculation of the electric field and accelerated extraction chlorides is performed. The example clearly shows uneven distribution of the computed fields (electric potential, chloride concentration) and uneven efficiency of the method in a real reinforced concrete structure.