Title: Reasons and prevention of corrosion-induced failures of prestressing steel in concrete

Authors: U. Nuernberger

Addresses: Institute of Construction Materials Stuttgart University, Pfaffenwaldring 4, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany

Abstract: Serious damages in post- and pretensioned prestressed components have occurred due to hydrogen-induced stress corrosion cracking of prestressing steel. The failures happened due to onsite conditions and were favoured by the sensitivity of the steels towards hydrogen. The contribution describes the mechanism of the fracturing process, the corrosion testing of prestressing steel and gives an overview about the knowledge concerning prevention methods for application in contact with mortar and concrete.

Keywords: prestressing steel; stress corrosion cracking; failure reasons; failure prevention; corrosion testing; hydrogen induced stress corrosion; concrete; mortar; corrosion prevention.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTRUCTE.2009.030024

International Journal of Structural Engineering, 2009 Vol.1 No.1, pp.29 - 39

Published online: 03 Dec 2009 *

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