Abstract
The reliability of tensile elements is a requirement for the safety of prestressed structures. Besides many other data, the assessment of the load-carrying capacity of a prestressed concrete structure requires the knowledge of the actual force of the tendons and their corrosion state as well as the localization of fractures. Neither for grouted interior nor for ungrouted exterior tendons non destructive and reliable methods to measure the prestress and to assess the corrosion activity or to locate tendon fractures are available today.
This contribution reports on actual research projects, dealing with fiber optic sensors to measure deformations and dealing with the variation of high frequency damping of steel tendons in concrete members due to corrosion. Furthermore a high-frequency-method is used to locate fracture in tendons.
First applications of some of these innovative techniques on a real structure are presented: the Herrenbrücke-bridge in Lübeck. Since three winters, measurements on this prestressed concrete bridge assessing its state of condition are carried out.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.