Corrosion-Induced Major Tendon Failures in Post-Tension (PT) Concrete Bridges

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November 12th, 2024

There are two types of PT tendons—bonded or unbonded—depending on the timing of installing the duct, tensioning the strands, and filling the duct
with grout. Injected filler materials afford additional corrosion protection by providing physical barriers to water and air, i.e., oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Cementitious grout can also be beneficial, providing a high-pH environment to form a protective, passive film (an invisible oxide film) on the steel
surface. However, if the passive film is compromised by aggressive anions such as chloride ions and sulfate ions, and carbonation of the surrounding
grout occurs (i.e., the pH falls below 9), prestressed steel can corrode.

Read the full article here.