Throwing power of localised anodes for the cathodic protection of slender carbonated concrete elements in atmospheric conditions

Advantages of cathodic protection, such as the possibility of preserving non-protective concrete and of reducing the invasiveness of the repair intervention, could be further improved by using small localised anodes, that do not affect the shape and surface of the element. However, the effectiveness of localised anodes needs to be verified, in particular in relation to current distribution issues that may be critical in slender and carbonated elements exposed to atmospheric conditions. This paper presents experimental results obtained on a real-size specimen aimed at investigating the possibility of using localised anodes (either with impressed current or galvanic) to protect steel in slender carbonated elements.