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Corrosion

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Performance Assessment of Concrete Structures and Engineered Barriers for Nuclear Applications

Part of the book series: RILEM State-of-the-Art Reports ((RILEM State Art Reports,volume 21))

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Abstract

The corrosion of steel in cementitious environments in nuclear applications has been studied extensively because (i) steel is widely used as reinforcement in the concrete used in nuclear power plants (NPPs) and (ii) cementitious materials are used as a waste encapsulant or backfill in some disposal concepts for low level and high level radioactive waste, where steel waste containers are used and steel wastes are processed. This section summarises the papers on corrosion in concrete that were given at the NUCPERF series of conferences. It first presents an overview of potential corrosion issues in NPPs and waste facilities and then describes the main corrosion mechanisms for steel in concrete (including passive corrosion, chloride–induced corrosion and carbonation). This is followed by an overview of the various aspects of modelling of corrosion of steel in concrete that were discussed during the NUCPERF meetings. The features of corrosion in concrete that need to be taken into consideration when developing new test programmes are summarised and the possible effects of concrete cracking on corrosion behaviour are discussed. Finally, some recommendations for future R&D on the subject of corrosion in concrete in nuclear applications are made.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SCK-CEN, Mol, Belgium

    Bruno Kursten

  2. AMEC, Didcot, UK

    Nick Smart

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  1. Bruno Kursten
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Correspondence to Nick Smart .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. des Bétons et des Argiles,Bat 158,P, CEA Saclay, Lab d'Etude du Comportem des Bétons et des Argiles, Bat 158, P, Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France

    Valérie L'Hostis

  2. ONDRAF-NIRAS , Bruxelles, Belgium

    Robert Gens

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Kursten, B., Smart, N. (2016). Corrosion. In: L'Hostis, V., Gens, R. (eds) Performance Assessment of Concrete Structures and Engineered Barriers for Nuclear Applications. RILEM State-of-the-Art Reports, vol 21. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0904-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0904-8_3

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