Flexural Behavior of Post-Tensioned Concrete Beams with Multiple Internal Corroded Strands

Abstract

The corrosion of prestressing steel in prestressed concrete bridges is a critical safety issue. To evaluate the strength of a prestressed concrete beam with corroded strands, it is necessary to know the mechanical properties of the corroded strands in terms of their tensile strength and ductility. In this study, material models were suggested using tensile tests of corroded strands which had been taken from existing bridges. Five prestressed concrete beams with multiple internal corroded strands of different corrosion levels and locations were fabricated and tested using the three-point bending test. The beams with corroded strands near the support did not show meaningful flexural behavior changes, while the beams with corrosion in the mid-span showed significant strength reduction. In order to suggest the appropriate evaluation of the flexural strength of a prestressed concrete beam with corroded strands, material models of the corroded strands were divided into two model categories: a bi-linear material model and a brittle material model. Strength evaluations of the corroded prestressed concrete beams according to fps approximation and strain-compatibility using OpenSEES were conducted. Results suggested the use of the strain compatibility method only when the section loss was greater than 5%.