Finite element-based parametric and forensic analysis of corrosion-induced structural deterioration in prestressed concrete bridge girders

Abstract

To study corrosion effects on real structures, three prestressed concrete (PC) girders salvaged from a decommissioned 27-year-old bridge in Alberta, Canada, were studied numerically and compared to experimental tests. Nonlinear finite element (FE) models were developed to simulate the degraded flexural and shear behaviour of PC girders. The FE models were used to infer the possible unknown deterioration conditions (i.e., forensic analysis) by comparing FE-predicted and experimental behaviour of the girders. Based on the developed FE models, comprehensive parametric studies considering various corrosion-induced deteriorations at a wide range of corrosion levels were also conducted. Insights gained from the parametric study assisted assessing other girders under similar conditions. It was found that corrosion defects, such as reinforcement area loss, prestress force loss, and bonding loss in the end anchorage, affect PC girder behaviour significantly and the developed FE models of corroded PC girders can assist girder condition assessment.