STUDIES ON THE CATHODIC PROTECTION CHARACTERISTICS IN SEABED SOIL AND THE CATHODIC PROTECTION DESIGN OF THE PORT STEEL STRUCTURES IN CONSIDERATION OF THE SOIL RESISTIVITY

Abstract

 In this paper, the cathodic protection characteristics in seabed soil were investigated by monitoring the current density and the potential of the steel pipe pile in seabed soil. (1) In the seabed soil, as the depth from the seabed was deeper, the period until the potential of steel reach the protective potential was longer. However, the effect was fully obtained at the every depth of pile by the cathodic protection.(2) Regarding a cathodic protection mechanism in the seabed soil, the cathodic protection was considered to be achieved by continuing the protective current, even if feeble. (3) The supply of protective current was affected by the soil resistivity based on the ground survey. In addition, we proposed a design method of cathodic protection in consideration of the soil resistivity, based on the potential and current density distribution analysis using the finite element method.