Abstract

Strand corrosion is one of the main causes for the deterioration of Pre-stressed concrete structures. Corrosion decreases strand cross-section, causes material deterioration, induces concrete cracking, degrades bond strength and deteriorates the capacity of PC beams. As the high-stress level of prestressing strand, strand corrosion causes a brittle failure of PC beams without warnings. The potential dangers of corrosion in PC beams would be much more severe than that in reinforced concrete members. The structural behaviors should be thoroughly investigated to insure the serviceability and safety of corroded PC beams.

Keywords: Pre-stressed concrete beams; Strand corrosion; Concrete cracking; Bond strength; Structural behaviors