Electrical Methods for assessment Chloride Resistance of Concrete in Marine Environments: A State‑of‑the‑Art Review

Abstract

The durability of reinforced concrete structures in marine environments represents one of the most critical challenges in modern civil engineering. The ingress of chloride ions constitutes the primary threat to the integrity of the reinforcing steel, triggering corrosion processes that compromise structural safety. In this context, electrical methods have become established as essential tools for assessing the resistance of concrete to chloride transport, offering significant advantages in terms of speed and practical applicability. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of these techniques, including accelerated migration tests—such as the Rapid Chloride Permeability Test (RCPT)—and instantaneous measurements of electrical resistivity or conductivity. Furthermore, it examines the theoretical foundation based on the Nernst-Planck and Nernst-Einstein equations, as well as their relationship with the concrete microstructure. Finally, the limitations of each method and the existing correlations between accelerated tests and natural diffusion are discussed.