Mössbauer characterization of the corrossion products of steels in civil works: Suspension bridge and reinforced concrete

The rusting condition of the cables of suspension bridges is usually evaluated by self-induction measurements. This method assumes that rusts of same chemical composition have always the same magnetic properties. Unfortunately in some cases, this assumption has shown to be questionable and this study has demonstrated that Mossbauer spectroscopy supplies additional information on the nature of some detected defects. In the case of reinforced concrete, it has been empirically pointed out that the content of agressive element, e.g. Cl− ions, should be under a trigger. Mossbauer studies have demonstrated the physical meaning of this practical rule.