Simulation-Guided Cathodic Protection Design Under Soil and Coating Uncertainty: Toward an Educational and Adaptive Tool (C2026-00290)

Yusheng Jiang, Hui Wang, Sreelakshmi Sreeharan, Homero Castaneda

Effective cathodic protection (CP) design must account for spatial and temporal variability in soil resistivity and coating condition, both of which influence protection performance. This study proposes a simulation-driven framework that incorporates seasonal changes (e.g., rainfall and temperature) and stochastic coating degradation to evaluate their impact on CP potential distribution. By modeling soil resistivity as a dynamic random field and simulating random coating defects, the system computes the resulting electric potential using a finite element approach. Close Interval Potential Survey (CIPS) is emulated from the simulated results to mimic field readings. These CIPS profiles are then used to guide iterative adjustments of rectifier settings (voltage and current), aiming to maintain adequate protection despite changing field conditions. The method demonstrates how simulated field variability can be used to inform adaptive rectifier control strategies. To promote knowledge transfer and training, the entire framework will also be developed into an interactive training tool. Users can visualize potential distributions under different soil and coating scenarios, observe simulated CIPS responses, and experiment with customized rectifier parameters. This tool bridges environmental simulation with field-applicable metrics, offering both a research testbed and a practical resource for CP design education.