Assessment of effect on climate change on structural behaviour of corroded sheet-piles in harbors

Abstract

Corrosion and water level affect the reliability of metal structures in the marine environment reducing their service capacity. This phenomenon can be accentuated by the presence of microorganisms which act directly or through their metabolism. Namely, they accelerate an already established process or they create favorable conditions for its establishment. The corrosion of metallic components is very dependent on the characteristics of the exposure environment: temperature, availability of oxygen, pH, type of exposure (submerged, tidal range, etc.), etc. Therefore, changes in the kinetics of the degradation mechanism can be achieved due to climate change.

The effect of rising water levels is felt on two levels: stability and location of the maximum corrosion zone. The main objective of this paper is to assess the effects of climate change on the durability and reliability of metal structures prone to corrosion. The corrosion mechanisms is represented by existing models in the literature and new models which will be fed by a Nantes Universit� database for port structures in France (GEROM Project). These models will then be coupled with climate projections from general circulation models for several climate change scenarios (existing database). Finally, the influence of corrosion and rising water levels on the reliability of a wharf is assessed.