Analytical study of cable corrosion effects due to lack of mortar injection in a post-tensioned concrete bridge

The paper focuses on the analytical formulation of the effects of localized corrosion on a post-tensioned concrete bridge in which cables are made adherent by cast-in-situ mortar injection. The corrosion is considered homogeneously distributed over a finite portion of the cable duct characterized by a lack of mortar injection. The paper proves that the reduction of the cross-section area of the prestressing cables due to corrosion generates losses in the prestressing force and a stress redistribution inside the remaining undamaged cables. These aspects are numerically quantified by considering several percentages of corroded area in a typical bridge cross-sectional geometry, providing information for damage identification purposes.