The global challenge: All over the world, reinforced concrete structures are collapsing due to corrosion-induced deterioration, and in the US alone, more than 47,000 bridges are structurally deficient and need constant corrosion monitoring until repairs are made or until it is too late! The answer is to produce more concrete (with a total global carbon footprint of 8%)!
The current solution: FT has developed a corrosion sensor “CorroWatch”. CorroWatch acts as an early warning system to predict the initial stages of corrosion in concrete structures. It is cast into the cover concrete, in freshly poured concrete structures. The sensor can measure most of the relevant corrosion parameters.
Future solution: In the future, the requirements for corrosion sensors will be significantly different and extensive compared to the current state-of-the-art. This includes real-time and weekly measurements, accurate detection, autonomy, battery-free, wireless and of course low cost…