Lucinda Jetty revisited: alkali-silica reaction and corrosion in prestressed concrete

Abstract

Lucinda Jetty was one of the first concrete structures in Australia to be identified with alkali–silica reaction (ASR). The prestressed concrete girders underwent cracking soon after construction and have been the subject of detailed investigations and monitoring since the late 1980s. The atmospherically exposed jetty roadway girders still show adequate serviceability, despite suffering from ASR. However, the girders at the jetty abutment are subject to constant seawater splash and have recently been found to have extensive corrosion of prestressing strands and stirrups, in addition to a higher degree of ASR damage. This paper examines the long-term performance of ASR-affected prestressed concrete in an aggressive marine environment and the interrelationships between ASR and corrosion.