A Comprehensive Numerical Study of Polarization Tests Applied to Corrosion Systems in Reinforced Concrete
Mr. Yannick Protière, Jr. Eng., M.S.c. and Project Manager for SIMCO presented this numerical study at the ACI 2014 Fall Convention that took place in Washington D.C.
Here is a sneak peak of the presentation topic:
The non-destructive evaluation of steel corrosion in reinforced concrete is commonly carried out using linear polarization resistance (LPR) measurements. The method is used to assess the rate of corrosion, and thus provide information on the long-term durability of structures. However, the analysis of LPR results is complicated by the non-uniform nature of corrosion on the surface of rebar. Small anodic sites are surrounded by large galvanic areas, introducing an important geometrical aspect to the measurement analysis.
In order to better understand the behavior of the polarized concrete/steel system, a series of numerical simulations was performed. The modeling was based on simulating a conductive porous material with embedded active (anodic) and passive (cathodic) surfaces located on the surface of rebars. The simulation results provided insight on the distribution of corrosion current inside the material when it is polarized and emphasize the influence of the material conductivity and anodic site location. The results are discussed and compared to commonly accepted hypotheses such as uniform corrosion distribution.
Contact us if you wish to learn more about our numerical study.
SIMCO’s unique approach in durability design engineering in order to achieve an optimum service-life of concrete infrastructure
For whatever the project; for buildings, roads, bridges and viaducts, port facilities, energy production and distribution installations, etc., the common goal is to deliver quality products that meet durability requirements set forth by the owner while ensuring that deadlines and budget costs are respected.
After a quarter of a century, the association will talk about all the changes that have taken place in the industry with some of the most important producers of concrete, builders, industry providers and suppliers, government officials, and academia.
SIMCO’s unique technical approach is based on its very own leading-edge predictive technology, and its extensive experience working on a multitude of big and small infrastructure projects around the world.
SIMCO may be involved in all phases of any given project; from providing technical support to the management team during the review of technical documents, to the selection of materials and optimization of concrete mixtures, to troubleshooting during the construction or repair of structures. SIMCO may also provide recommendations to improve construction methods and operating procedures used in addition to elaborating a repair and maintenance plan for each specific structure.
Contact us today to learn more about how SIMCO can help optimize concrete mixtures for superior durability and long-term performance.
SIMCO, world Leader in concrete infrastructure durability design, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Vincent Lapointe to the role of Business Development Engineer.
His primary responsibilities will be to expand SIMCO’s unique concrete durability design software products and services to SIMCO’s different market segments within the Quebec Province. Mr. Lapointe’s role will include all aspects of the business generation process, development of sales strategies, in addition to commercial activities and contractual negotiations.
Mr. Lapointe has developed an extensive experience as a Project Engineer and Project Manager over the past 9 years at SIMCO. He has developed an important expertise in the inspection and characterization of damaged concrete structures. He has worked on numerous projects that include aspects of durability, failure analysis, premature deterioration of concrete and rehabilitation strategies, especially when corrosion was involved. Over the years, he has also developed an expertise in service-life prediction and a thorough knowledge of the STADIUM® software functionalities.
Mr. Lapointe developed and provided several trainings on SIMCO’s STADIUM® software products. He has also helped many users and potential clients in assessing the full power of this leading-edge predictive technology.
“Vincent will play a key role in the development of SIMCO’s market segments in the Quebec Province”, says Mr. Dennis Burns, Director of Business Development, “he is a great addition to our Business Development Team”.
Contact Vincent for more information on how we can help with your new or existing concrete structures: vlapointe@simcotechnologies.com
Mr. Dennis Burns, Eng., M.Sc. presented “Proactive and Predictive Waterfront Asset Management – Port of Rotterdam Experience” at RPIC
On January 28th and 29th, the Real Property Institute of Canada (RPIC) hosted its very first National Workshop on Marine Infrastructure that took place in Montreal, Quebec.
“Whether it’s a cruise terminal in Nova Scotia, a fishing harbor in Newfoundland, a ferry installation in Quebec, a commercial port in Ontario, a recreational facility in Alberta or a naval base in British Columbia, the ultimate goal is common for all of those responsible for these assets: build and maintain safe and durable core facilities.”
Read more about the conference.
Today, with the aging of port infrastructure around the world, it is crucial to understand the current condition of these structures and adopt cost-effective strategies to repair and maintain them. Over the years, considerable work has been conducted on the mechanisms responsible for the deterioration of structures and how to report condition and performance. Recently, a new generation of deterioration models and risk-based management approaches, combined with GIS technology have seen the day and are used on projects to assist port owners and engineers in optimizing the use of available funds in keeping their ports as safe and competitive as possible.
Mr. Burns presented how the Waterfront Structure Management System (WSMS) is now at the heart of a world-leading port’s decision-making process. Attendees benefited from the lessons learned of a large port implementing such a system and appreciated the hurdles faced are similar in nature to what they can face in their own ports. The presentation took the attendee step by step in the thought process behind waterfront asset management and through the implementation phase all the way to the short and mid-term benefits and long-term vision.
Contact us for more information: info@simcotechnologies.com
At the 93rd annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) in Washington D.C., SIMCO featured its very own Bridge Deck Tool for the Transportation Industry
Are you asking yourselves these questions?
- How bad is the deterioration on the bridge deck?
- What is the corrosion risk over time?
- How can we develop efficient maintenance and rehabilitation strategies?
- How can we extend its service life?
Learn how a probabilistic approach can help you to cost-effectively anticipate where, when, and how deterioration will occur in order to avoid unnecessary downtime and considerably reduce maintenance costs.
SIMCO’s Bridge Deck Tool uses a combination of probabilistic material deterioration modeling and non-destructive evaluation technologies in order to predict degradation at the element level enabling an accurate lifecycle cost analysis that considers a variety of maintenance and rehabilitation strategies for increased safety and cost-effectiveness.
For new or existing structures, SIMCO’s STADIUM® Bridge Deck Tool utilizes a probabilistic approach to generate a two-dimensional simulation of corrosion risk over time. This information can be used to forecast the location and quantity of damage on the deck and more importantly, it can be used to simulate the effectiveness of repair, rehabilitation and maintenance strategies based on time of intervention.
Special KMS Webinar – A Waterfront Asset Management System
Hear it directly from Mr. Henk Voogt, Asset Manager – Port Infrastructure, from the Port of Rotterdam Authority. Mr Voogt presents their global strategic vision for the effective management of port infrastructure and will demonstrate how the implementation of the KMS solution is now essential in the strategic planning of Port of Rotterdam’s maintenance programs.
With the aging of port infrastructure around the world, it is crucial to understand the current condition of these structures and adopt cost-effective strategies to repair and maintain these assets. Over the past decade, considerable work has been conducted on the mechanisms responsible for the deterioration of structures exposed to harsh environments and how to report condition and performance. Recently, a new generation of deterioration models and risk-based management approaches, combined with state-of-the-art GIS technology have seen the day and are used on projects to assist port owners and engineers in optimizing the use of available funds in keeping their ports as safe and competitive as possible.
This special webinar presentation covers the use of a proactive, predictive and risk-based asset management approach and its underlying principles in one of the world’s largest ports.
Attendees will experience a case study where the Waterfront Asset Management System is at the heart of a world-leading port’s decision-making process. Attendees will benefit from the lessons learned of a large port implementing such a system and appreciate that the hurdles faced are similar in nature to what they can face in their own ports. The presentation takes the attendee step by step in the thought process behind waterfront asset management and through the implementation phase all the way to the short and mid-term benefits and long-term vision.
Here are a few benefits of the KMS Solution:
- Reduce maintenance & life-cycle costs
- Conserve human & financial resources in order to redirect budgets onto other more urgent investment projects
- Accurately assess the current condition and remaining useful life
- Determine which repair alternatives are the most cost-effective
- Clarify the risks and consequences, in the short, mid to long term, of postponing maintenance interventions
- Prioritize budgets and develop strategic maintenance programs
- Predict which maintenance tasks must be executed, when they should be done and how frequently, based on deterioration of materials (concrete, steel, and anodes)
Contact us today for more information: sales@simcotechnologies.com
CONGRATULATIONS TO SIMCO TECHNOLOGIES FOR WINNING THE 2013 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD, PRESENTED BY DESJARDINS
Quebec, March 14th, 2013 – The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Quebec congratulates SIMCO Technologies who wins the 2013 Business of the Year award!
The winners of different categories were revealed during the 30th Fidéides gala held at the Quebec City Convention Centre in front of over 700 people from the business community of Quebec. The Fidéides recognizes each year the success of entrepreneurs in the Quebec region.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Quebec and its partners congratulate SIMCO Technologies inc. for winning the Desjardins Business Merit Award. This prestigious award is a unique initiative of its kind in Quebec which aims to highlight businesses that excel in their industry.
The jury reviews the candidacies of many different types of businesses and evaluates them in accordance to three main criteria:
Development
- Growth and financial health
- Job creation
- Level of competition and positioning of the company in its business sector
- Development of new markets
Achievements
- Investments
- Labor force training
- Commitment to the community
Innovation
- Level of Innovation and quality of products, services or processes
- Environmental impact
Having won the Desjardins Business Merit also qualifies SIMCO as a finalist for the “Company of the Year” award that will be revealed at the 30th Fidéides Gala held in March by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Quebec.
Since 1989, SIMCO has developed a unique understanding of the critical parameters that govern the deterioration process of structures exposed to aggressive environments. By combining sophisticated materials analysis techniques and leading-edge service-life predictive models, SIMCO’s unique and flexible approach leads to better business decisions for a wide range of applications.
Over the years, SIMCO has worked in numerous major international projects involving the design of durable new constructions and the elaboration of preservation plans for existing structures. At every phase, SIMCO’s experts assist owners in the management of the complete lifecycle of their infrastructure, from the initial concept through to construction, maintenance and rehabilitation while helping them meet the most rigorous international standards.
For more information: sales@simcotechnologies.com
Port of Rotterdam’s Quay Wall Modeling System (KMS) – A truly innovative tool for the maritime industry
At the iMaintain Infrastructure Congress organized on November 1st by the Dutch Association for the Effective Maintenance of Infrastructure (NVDO), after a few hours of jury deliberation on the different nominees, there is a unanimous vote. Port of Rotterdam’s KMS system is awarded “Infrastructure Project of the Year 2012”.
With over 80 km of quay walls, the Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and the 4th largest in the world.
The typical service life for maritime civil engineering structures is approximately 50 years and a large proportion of Port of Rotterdam’s assets will be nearing the end of their service life in the coming years. Therefore, in an effort to ensure sustainable economic development and growth, the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s objective is to strengthen its competitive position by investing in its infrastructure and by developing a world-class asset management system for the effective maintenance and repair of its marine structures. In accordance to this objective, the KMS, an asset management system was designed and developed in a collaborative effort between the Port of Rotterdam, and engineering firms, Traduco and SIMCO, and offers an innovative and cost-effective solution for the management of Port of Rotterdam’s marine infrastructure.
The jury considered several factors in selecting a winner:
- The synergy between the team
- The team with the most sincere and profound desire for mitigating risks
- The team is recognized for setting new international standards for the effective maintenance and repair of infrastructure
- The infrastructure project of the year 2012 belongs to the team who has developed “best practices” to be used by the global industry
Congratulations to all project teams!
Contact us to learn more about SIMCO’s service-life solutions
Congratulations to Jacques Marchand, President and Founder of SIMCO, on his nomination for the “Prix Rayonnement Hors Québec”
The Quebec Chamber of Commerce congratulates Jacques Marchand, President and founder of SIMCO, on his nomination for the “Prix Rayonnement Hors Québec” 2012 edition, in recognition of SIMCO’s success in major projects abroad.
Jacques Marchand is an internationally recognized expert in the field of concrete infrastructure durability.
SIMCO’s expertise has been called on across the globe to understand concrete durability issues that go beyond the scope of routine engineering works. A pioneer in the development of innovative tools for the construction industry, SIMCO has developed state-of-the-art solutions to optimize the management of concrete infrastructure.
SIMCO is the only Canadian company to be directly involved in the construction of the new Panama Canal, the most significant project of its kind in the world. In addition, Port of Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe and 4th largest in the world, required SIMCO’s expertise to develop a world-class asset management system for the effective maintenance and repair of its marine structures.
Today, SIMCO’s STADIUM Software is one of the few Canadian technologies to be specified by the U.S. Department of Defense for the construction of new maritime works for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and NASA.
The company to be awarded the “Prix Rayonnement Hors Quebec” will be revealed at the “Gala des Fidéides” on March 14th 2013.