Alternate Corrosion Resistant Protection System for Post-Tensioned Bridge Members
Project Information
The development of new post-tensioning materials and systems in recent years has made some of the durability research in this area obsolete. The current research is evaluating the corrosion resistance of both existing and potential post-tensioning materials as well as examining construction practices for the new systems. The research is funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). The new post-tensioning systems being investigated include combinations of strand, duct (with and without couplers), bearing plated and electrical isolation. The experimental program includes both long-term exposure tests and accelerated corrosion tests. The long-term program is modeled after previous post-tensioning durability research at the University of Texas. To provide continuity between the two projects and comparable results, this research used construction practices, exposure methods and monitoring conditions similar to those used in the previous research, with the exception that the current specimen uses only one-eighth of the materials used in previous specimens. The compact specimens should yield data fully comparable to that from the larger specimens of the previous project. This presentation focuses on the design and fabrication of the long-term exposure specimens. The accelerated testing of the materials and evaluation of construction practices will be completed in 2013 and the report submitted.
- Infrastructure
- Pavements and Materials