A reference electrode includes a metal body, a lead disposed within the metal body, an insulator disposed between the lead and the metal body, the insulator including a ceramic material, and a porous metal chamber coupled to the metal body, the lead extending into the porous metal chamber. The porous metal chamber is configured to maintain an electrolyte solution within the porous metal chamber to establish a redox couple with the lead.

Hundreds of thousands of concrete bridges and hundreds of billions of tons of concrete require characterization with time for corrosion. Accordingly, protocols for rapid testing and improved field characterization systems that automatically triangulate electrical resistivity and half-cell corrosion potential measurements would be beneficial allowing discrete/periodic mapping of a structure to be performed as well as addressing testing for asphalt covered concrete. Further, it is the low frequency impedance of rebar in concrete that correlates to corrosion state but these are normally time consuming vulnerable to noise. Hence, it would be beneficial to provide a means of making low frequency electrical resistivity measurements rapidly. Further, prior art techniques for electrical rebar measurements require electrical connection be made to the rebar which increases measurement complexity/disruption/repair/cost even when no corrosion is identified. Beneficially a method of determining the state of a rebar without electrical contact is taught.

A test system for detecting corrosion under a coating on a structure, the coating being transmissive to microwaves and the surface being reflective to microwaves. A microwave generator generates microwaves of a desired power and frequency, which are delivered to a test head that both transmits the microwaves to the surface and receives the microwaves as reflected from the structure. A corrosion detection processor measures the phase and amplitude of the reflected signal, and compares measurement data to reference data to determine if corrosion under the coating is indicated.

A test system for detecting corrosion under a coating on a structure, the coating being transmissive to microwaves and the surface being reflective to microwaves. A microwave generator generates microwaves of a desired power and frequency, which are delivered to a test head that both transmits the microwaves to the surface and receives the microwaves as reflected from the structure. A corrosion detection processor measures the phase and amplitude of the reflected signal, and compares measurement data to reference data to determine if corrosion under the coating is indicated.

A method for testing physical properties of a material includes inserting coherent light into a waveguide such that the coherent light exits the waveguide at an end of the waveguide that is embedded within the material, thereby causing the coherent light to interact with the material. The method also includes detecting a reaction of the material to the coherent light.

A method for testing physical properties of a material includes inserting coherent light into a waveguide such that the coherent light exits the waveguide at an end of the waveguide that is embedded within the material, thereby causing the coherent light to interact with the material. The method also includes detecting a reaction of the material to the coherent light.

A method for measuring a thickness of a deposit layer on a metal or alloy substrate using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, where the deposit layer includes scale deposits or corrosion products. As part of the method, an elemental composition of the deposit layer or the metal or alloy substrate is measured using the XRF spectrometer. The thickness of the deposit layer is obtained from the elemental composition using a calibration relationship between deposit layer thicknesses and corresponding elemental compositions of the deposit layer or the metal/alloy substrate. The method can be applied to determine the rate of deposit layer formation and evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment.

A corrosion resistance tester for a coated metal material including a surface treatment film on a metal substrate includes: a container placed on the surface treatment film, and having a bottom surface in contact with the surface treatment film, the container including a plurality of water-containing electrolyte material holders that open through the bottom surface; the water-containing electrolyte material contained in each of the water-containing electrolyte material holders of the container, and being in contact with an associated one of a plurality of separate measurement target portions of the surface treatment film; a plurality of electrodes being each in contact with the water-containing electrolyte material contained in an associated one of the water-containing electrolyte material holders; an external circuit connecting the electrodes together; and a conduction means configured to conduct electricity to the metal substrate through the electrodes and the external circuit.

A corrosion resistance tester for a coated metal material including a surface treatment film on a metal substrate includes: a container placed on the surface treatment film, and having a bottom surface in contact with the surface treatment film, the container including a plurality of water-containing electrolyte material holders that open through the bottom surface; the water-containing electrolyte material contained in each of the water-containing electrolyte material holders of the container, and being in contact with an associated one of a plurality of separate measurement target portions of the surface treatment film; a plurality of electrodes being each in contact with the water-containing electrolyte material contained in an associated one of the water-containing electrolyte material holders; an external circuit connecting the electrodes together; and a conduction means configured to conduct electricity to the metal substrate through the electrodes and the external circuit.

A state analysis device is capable of determining a state of the interior of piping with high precision, and includes: an index calculation means for deriving an index indicating the state of the piping, based on a flow speed of fluid flowing out of the piping, and a fluid pressure of the interior of the piping at two or more locations of the piping; and a determination means for determining the state of the piping, based on the index.