Prestressed girders, typical elements in existing bridge decks, are often subjected to degradation phenomena and unexpected failures. This paper presents the results of experimental tests featuring the simultaneous effect of sustained loads and corrosion of the strands. A comparison is made with an uncorroded reference beam and four beams first corroded and then tested. The outcomes obtained, in terms of load-deflection diagrams, cracking pattern, strands failure, corrosion intensity and morphology, highlight the sharp influence of the corrosion localization and therefore of a sustained load on the structural behaviour, since the presence of load-induced cracks creates preferential way for the attack of corrosive agents and localizes the pit formations in few sections. Useful indication can be driven for the performance assessment of this kind of structures.
Meda, A., Di Carlo, F., Rinaldi, Z. (2025). Performance assessment of corroded PC beam elements. In Concrete structures: extend lifetime, limit impacts: proceedings of the 2025 fib international symposium (pp.493-502). fib (International Federation for Structural Concrete).
Performance assessment of corroded PC beam elements
Meda, A;Di Carlo, F;Rinaldi, Z
2025-01-01
Abstract
Prestressed girders, typical elements in existing bridge decks, are often subjected to degradation phenomena and unexpected failures. This paper presents the results of experimental tests featuring the simultaneous effect of sustained loads and corrosion of the strands. A comparison is made with an uncorroded reference beam and four beams first corroded and then tested. The outcomes obtained, in terms of load-deflection diagrams, cracking pattern, strands failure, corrosion intensity and morphology, highlight the sharp influence of the corrosion localization and therefore of a sustained load on the structural behaviour, since the presence of load-induced cracks creates preferential way for the attack of corrosive agents and localizes the pit formations in few sections. Useful indication can be driven for the performance assessment of this kind of structures.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
