Validation plan for boundary element method modeling of impressed current cathodic protection system design and control response

In the past 20 years, the US Navy has used the physical scale modeling (PSM) technique to design effective cathodic protection (CP) systems for the ships under-water hull, nickel-aluminum-bronze props and other hull components. In more recent years, a number of computational techniques have been devised in an attempt to fulfill this purpose. Physical models have proven highly adept at ICCP design, since modeled information provides a direct relationship to the actual hull and can be scaled up directly because of confidence in the physically measured data. Boundary element (BE) models have been correspondingly devised that mimic actual hull design and even the PSM layout, but because the BE method is a computational methodology, the calculated data requires systematic validation with a physical analog to insure confidence in the control response. BE literature has discussed design issues regarding mesh layout, intrinsic geometric complexities, accuracy of material response input, the predictive engineering design capability for zonal response, and assessment of electric field response. It does not significantly discuss the accuracy of the BE model calculated work predictive design capability, without the need for "tweaking," and ultimately a rigorous validation of both the mesh and resultant system design technique. This paper presents validation requirements, for any BE model, that is inherently robust enough to be used for CP design and control, and a proposed four-point methodology that will allow for the comprehensive validation of the BE model to predict the ICCP control responses and system performance behavior.