This paper presents the results obtained from the evaluation of the pre-stressed concrete piles of the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge on Lake Maracaibo (PGRU) and the field tests carried out for the cathodic protection of its reinforcements with sacrificial anodes. This paper also presents the results of the seven years’ experience with Al-Zn-In in-test piles that has led to their use for protecting the bridge’s piles. The evaluation was carried out by visual inspection and by using physical-chemical and electrochemical analysis. The latter which were able to detect severe corrosion problems in the reinforcement. The results show that the corrosion in the reinforcement is due to the procedure that was used to connect them to the cap. This has led to exposure of the reinforcement to the aggressive Lake Maracaibo environment, and their subsequent corrosion.
Keywords: Reinforced concrete structures, sacrificial anodes, corrosion survey, piles.