MAINTENANCE OF PRESTRESSED

CONCRETE STRUCTURES
PRESENTED BY
SUBHAM KAYASTHA
1956013
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
GENERAL OUTLINE:

• The major objective of maintenance of prestressed concrete structure is to preserve the structure in such a way that

it will function satisfactorily and also to rectify the damages caused due to several factors

• Good maintenance practices requires periodical surveillance, identification of local damage,deterioration due to

environment and other load effects.

• In such case local repairs are needed

MAINTENANCE OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
BRIDGES
• Suitably designed and constructed prestressed concrete structure have demonstrated great durability
performance in different environmental situations. But there are situations in which prestressed
tendons of prestressed concrete structures have extremely suffered damages and deterioration in
which prestressed strand of prestressed concrete bridge has deteriorated heavily.
CAUSES OF EROSION AND DAMAGES IN TENDON

1) The main cause of prestressed tendon erosion and damages may be

chloride ingression. After chloride ions go through concrete, it will
decrease the concrete passivity and eventually with corrosion process
will start with the presence of water and oxygen.
2) Another factor that can deteriorate prestressed concrete structure is the
carbonation. It occurs though chemical reaction between water and
CO2 in air.

The effect of carbonation might be smaller compared to chloride influence,

because not only it can be prevented but also its progress is slower and its
ingression depth is lower.
PRECAUTIONS DURING CONSTRUCTION

• At the design and construction stage of the structure, necessary measures can be considered to protect

prestressed concrete structure from both chloride and carbonation aggression.

• Such protection techniques include increasing concrete impermeability by increasing concrete cover

thickness to protect prestressed tendons and declining structural cracking.

CAUSES OF DETERIORATION IN PRESTRESSED CONCRETE BRIDGE

• Because of waves and splash in the tidal zones, underside

wharf decks and piles of coastal marine structures deteriorate.
• Graving dock wall is another prestressed concrete structural
element that fact deterioration because it is flooded
occasionally and then dewatered for long time and eventually it
will suffer deterioration.
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE STRUCTURES MAINTENANCE

Suitable and appropriate maintenance method can be used

with extreme care to maintain the strength and extend the
life span of the existing prestressed concrete structures that
have not been damaged or deteriorated substantially.
The maintenance program for prestressed concrete
structures is provided in the following sections:
• For those prestressed concrete structure that the salt is
employed whether it is by deliberate or accident, it is
recommended to use water to remove the salt and
eventually prevent its detrimental influence.
• It is advised to apply layer of silane for the surface to increase its impermeability against water and chloride penetration.
• It is considerably significant to fill both cracks that do not progress and those that possibly increase. The former can be filled
with epoxy injection whereas the later should be sealed with a material that has flexible property for example polyurethane.
This material can extend as the width of the cracks is increased.
• If it is possible, fill the structures with water in order prevent oxygen penetration. This will decrease the chance of chloride or
carbonation attack and hence increase service life of the structure. Such structures which can be flooded with water are
prestressed concrete pipes, sewers, conduits, and penstocks.
• Stitches or epoxy injection application for the repair of laminated cracks is considerably useful and provide good result.
• It is recommended to introduce coating or insulation for concrete cover in the region where the structure is subjected to the
influence of freezing and thawing.
• Damaging decks of bridge is most likely due to salts used in neighboring roads or streets and the is adhered tires of the car and
eventually transferred to bridge deck.
•Utilize penetrating corrosion inhibitor for cases where the structure can be dried from water and

the water in the pores of concrete does not prevent the ingression of corrosion inhibitors.