Comparison of impressed current cathodic protection numerical modeling results with physical scale modeling data

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Comparison of impressed current cathodic protection numerical modeling results with physical scale modeling data

Wang, Y. / KarisAllen, K.J.

Physical scale modeling (PSM) is an experimental technology that has been used to evaluate and design shipboard impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems by various researchers and designers. PSM is also a preferred tool for validating ICCP numerical modeling results, owing to the well-controlled conditions in PSM experiments. However, one issue in using PSM for the validation of numerical modeling results is the lack of information on the actual polarization behavior of the cathodes on a model hull during PSM experiments. Consequently, the polarization curve data used as boundary conditions in numerical modeling trials is usually different from the polarization behavior of the cathodes in PSM experiments. This difference can result in a discrepancy between the numerical modeling and the PSM results, which is difficult to separate from other numerical errors. A discrete area current control (DACC) technique was developed in a previous ICCP PSM study to simulate the polarization behavior of a propeller material under various conditions. The present study extended the DACC technique to simulate the polarization curve behavior of four discrete cathodes representing one nickel aluminum bronze (NAB) propeller and three discrete steel patches. This study also demonstrated that use of the DACC technique can ensure that both PSM and numerical modeling studies use identical polarization curve relationships as boundary conditions. The technique facilitates the use of the PSM results for comparison with numerical modeling results. The comparison study showed good agreement between the PSM results and numerical modeling results, in both simulated static and dynamic flow conditions.