Monitoring of the Corrosion on a Steel Sheet-Pile Marine Breakwater by Systematic Thickness Measurements

In Quepos, Pacific of Costa Rica, it was finished on 2010 the first phase of a marina, including two mix breakwaters, with rubble mound （rocks and concrete units）, and 25 circular steel sheet piles cofferdam cells, filled with sand and gravel. The maintenance plan, considers tracking sheet pile corrosion, comparing ＂actual＂ against expected rates, checking structural limits, and programming countermeasures if accelerated corrosion is identified. Specific control sections, along the breakwaters, both inside and outside the basin, were established. In each section, thicknesses were measured every meter from the top of the steel cell to seabed using an ultrasonic equipment, and an underwater transducer. Both land crew, and divers for submerged portions, were used. The measurements campaigns are for several years from 2011 to 2016. Sectors of the breakwater with varied corrosion attack levels could be differentiated. Also, corrosion rates and lifespans were estimated, both general for the structures, and specific for each section and level. In turn, this allowed to identify maintenance priorities, defining sites where measures of corrosion protection should initiate, as well, to have confidence in the structural capacity and safety of the breakwaters.

Monitoring of the Corrosion on a Steel Sheet-pile Marine Breakwater by Systematic Thickness Measurements

In Quepos,Pacific of Costa Rica,it was finished on 2010 the first phase of a marina,including two mix breakwaters,with rubble mound(rocks and concrete units),and 25 circular steel sheet piles cofferdam cells,filled with sand and gravel.The maintenance plan,considers tracking sheet pile corrosion,comparing'actual'against expected rates,checking structural limits,and programming countermeasures if accelerated corrosion is identified.Specific control sections,along the breakwaters,both inside and outside the basin,were established.In each section,thicknesses were measured every meter from the top of the steel cell to seabed using an ultrasonic equipment,and an underwater transducer.Both land crew,and divers for submerged portions,were used.The measurements campaigns are for several years from 2011 to 2016.Sectors of the breakwater with varied corrosion attack levels could be differentiated.Also,corrosion rates and lifespans were estimated,both general for the structures,and specific for each section and level.In turn,this allowed to identify maintenance priorities,defining sites where measures of corrosion protection should initiate,as well,to have confidence in the structural capacity and safety of the breakwaters.