Accelerated Low Water Corrosion – a bacteriological attack on steel – has in the past contributed to the loss of two thirds of the structural design life of many quay walls before major maintenance, says UK specialist Nuttall John Martin.
The affects have been known about since certainly the 1960s, but structures have been built, and may still be being built, without adequate consideration being given to prevention.There is now no need for the structures to be damaged by any of the corrosion mechanisms, if sufficient informed advice is sought and implemented.
The company stresses that ALWC can be prevented by the use of cathodic protection since this has been shown to halt attacks. However, the choice of repairs or preventative installations will be affected by the layout and use of the structure. In a badly affected structure there will probably be the need for remedial measures for structural or usage purposes in addition to the consideration of the ‘killing’of corrosion cells.
