Corrosion of Post-Tensioned Tendons with Deficient Grout, Part 2: Segregated Grout with Elevated Sulfate Content

Corrosion failure of post-tensioning (PT) tendons with prepackaged thixotropic grout has been documented in Florida bridges. Analysis of the deficient grout in Florida PT bridges, where severe corrosion developed, indicated elevated sulfate ion concentration, high pore water pH, low chloride ion content, and enhanced moisture content. Limited information is available on the corrosion behavior of PT strand in grout materials with elevated sulfate ion content. In this work, the corrosion performance of steel strands embedded in deficient grout was evaluated. The deficient grout was cast in large scale test assemblies that would represent geometry and material conditions found in Florida bridges, where PT strand corrosion occurred. Large scale mock up tendons (developed by the modified inclined tube [MIT] test) of about 4.57 m long were cast using expired grout materials, excess of 15% water, and sulfate ion concentrations to create deficiencies and corrosion conditions in the grout environment. Corrosion measurements such as corrosion potential (E-corr) and corrosion current density (i(corr)), as well as potentiodynamic polarization tests were performed on the steel probes located along the MIT samples in contact with the deficient grout. Grout characterization parameters included the determination of the grout resistance (R-s), as well as the moisture and sulfate ion content. Also, visual inspection of the MIT samples (steel strand and steel corrosion probes) after a time was performed, as well as the corrosion products characterization. Testing confirmed that enhanced corrosion can occur in the deficient grout with high free sulfate ion accumulation.