An FHWA Special Study: Post-Tensioning Tendon Grout Chloride Thresholds

Elevated levels of chloride were recently discovered in a commercially available pre-bagged grout product made for post-tensioned (PT) tendons. Chloride concentrations were reported to be as high as 5.27 percent by weight of cement. These numbers exceed the current limits set by all of the domestic and international regulatory committees. For example, the chloride limits for prestressed concrete imposed by American Concrete Institute committees are either 0.06 percent water-soluble chloride by weight of cement or 0.08 percent acid-soluble chloride by weight of cement. Chloride threshold is defined as a minimum chloride concentration needed to induce corrosion. However, there is limited information reported in the literature pertaining to actual chloride threshold of seven-wire PT strands. For this reason, the Federal Highway Administration sponsored a 6-month accelerated corrosion testing program to determine chloride threshold(s) of PT strands exposed to chloride-contaminated grout. Based on the test results obtained through the 6-month accelerated corrosion testing program and subsequent autopsy of the specimens, two chloride threshold values were determined for the PT strands fully encased in normal grout. The first threshold is 0.4 percent chloride concentration by weight of cement, which is the lowest amount needed to initiate corrosion of strands. At this threshold, rust spots can be formed, and a small number of pits start to form beneath some of the rust spots. The second critical chloride threshold is found in association with corrosion propagation. At this threshold, corrosion starts to intensify in terms of the number of pits and pit depth. Test data and autopsy results obtained in this study indicated that 0.8 percent chloride by weight of cement is the critical threshold. Once chloride concentration exceeds the critical threshold, significant corrosion damage can occur rapidly, and structural integrity of the PT bridges may be compromised in the near future. The actual deterioration rate will be influenced by many factors. These threshold values are applicable to normal grout condition only. They may not be adequate in other conditions such as carbonated grout, segregated grout, duct cracks, grout voids filled with water with or without chloride ions, or free sulfate ions in contact with the strands. In these circumstances, corrosion should start below the proposed threshold values.

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• Summary URL:
  http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/structures/bridge/14039/index.cfm
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/27468
• Corporate Authors:

  Rutgers University, Piscataway

  Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation, 100 Brett Road
  Piscataway, NJ  United States  08854-8058

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Authors:
  • Lee, Seung-Kyoung
  • Zielske, James
• Publication Date: 2014-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 200p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chloride content; Concrete bridges; Corrosion; Corrosion tests; Grout; Posttensioning; Tendons (Materials)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01530950
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-HRT-14-039
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-08-C-00005
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 24 2014 3:15PM