Development Of An Embedded Uhf-Rfid Corrosion Sensor For Monitoring Corrosion Of Steel In Concrete

Corrosion of reinforcing steel is the leading cause of deterioration in concrete and impacts strongly the safety and durability of civil infrastructures. It occurs in marine environment with the presence of chloride which breaks the thin oxide film passivation layer leading to dissolution. This research proposes an innovative embedded sensor in concrete for the detection of corrosion of steel. The autonomous UHF RFID (Ultra High Frequency Radio Frequency Identification) sensor is based on the coupling between the antenna of a dipolar RFID tag and a layer of steel exposed to chloride in concrete. Variation of the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) measured by the reader localized in air has two origins, namely the degree of moisture of concrete and the presence of the steel layer. By minimizing the impact of seawater ingress on the antenna property, the presence of metallic films of few micrometers thickness can be detected. This authorizes the development of the proposed method for monitoring mass loss of steel in concrete.