Investigation of Corrosion Protection Systems for Bridge Stay Cables. Corrosion Protection for Post-Tension Tendons and Cable Stay Systems

Details

• Creators:
  Breen, John E. ; Frank, Karl H. ; Hamilton, H. R.
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation Research
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas. Dept. of Transportation ; United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Bridges Cables Corrosion Protection Durability Tests Epoxy Coatings Epoxy Resins Prestressing Protective Coating
• Publication/ Report Number:
  1264-3F
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States;Texas
• Edition:
  Research Report (9/91-8/95)
• Corporate Publisher:
  University of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation Research
• Abstract:
  The use of cable-stayed bridges in medium- and long-span applications in the United States has increased significantly in the past ten years. Of paramount importance with this type of bridge is the protection of the stay cables from corrosive elements. An extensive survey, reported herein, showed a general concern over the adequacy of the corrosion protection of the most widely used current system. In this study, the popular two-barrier system (pre-stressing strand inside polyethylene sheath injected with portland cement grout) was examined experimentally. The effectiveness of the grout in providing secondary corrosion protection in the event of a cut or break in the external sheathing was a major focus of the experimental work. Such breaks have been documented on a US bridge. Small-scale experimental studies were conducted to develop a low-bleed grout for use in the large-scale stay tests. In addition, small scale accelerated corrosion tests were conducted on grouts containing corrosion inhibiting admixtures. The major portion of the experimental program involved accelerated durability testing of eight large-scale stay cable specimens. Each stay specimen was 9.5-m long and was composed of 12 12.7-mm diameter 7-wire prestressing strand. The inclined stay specimens were stressed to bridge dead load levels and then injected with the low-bleed portland cement grout. Additional axial and lateral loads were then applied to most specimens to simulate field loading conditions. Selected small areas of the sheathing were removed to simulate breaks in the exterior barrier. The exposed grout in these locations was then subjected to alternate wet and dry cycles with salt solution. Variables included use of temporary corrosion protection, galvanized strand, epoxy-coated strand, and greased and sheathed strand. One important finding was that when the sheathing was breached for the accelerated corrosion tests, the grout would shrink and crack at that location. As a result of the cracking, corrosion of the underlying unprotected strand occurred soon after the application of the salt solution. Another important finding was that significant air pockets formed in the grout in all specimens except one. Undamaged epoxy-coated, greased and sheathed, and galvanized strand provided significant improvement over grouted bare strand in corrosion protection along the free length. However, corrosion occurred on all of the strands in varying degrees at the anchor head. Based on the extensive survey of the state-of-the-art and on the experimental findings, a rational basis for selecting a stay cable protective system is proposed in the form of suggested additions to the Post-Tensioning Institute’s Recommendations for Stay Cable Design, Testing and Installation.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  Research Study 0-1264
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:eb31dacedd17c483d164aa0d8af67d809a1e3fdd96cc1b24c171c7ae63a81557
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/42762/dot_42762_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.25 MB ]