Monitoring general corrosion of rebar embedded in mortar using high-frequency guided mechanical waves

High-frequency guided mechanical waves were used to ultrasonically monitor reinforced mortar specimens undergoing accelerated general corrosion damage. Waves were invoked, using both single-cycle and high-cycle tonebursts, at frequencies where the attenuation is at a local minimum. Results show that the high-frequency waves were sensitive to irregularities in the reinforcing rebar profile caused by corrosion. The sensitivity is thought to be due to scattering, reflections, and mode conversion at the irregularities. Certain frequencies show promise for being insensitive to the surrounding mortar, ingress of water, presence of additional rebar, stirrups, and rust product accumulation. This lack of sensitivity allows for changes in guided wave behavior from bar profile deterioration to be isolated from the effects of other surrounding interfaces.