assessment of bond for cathodically polarized pretensioning steel in concrete

Pretensioned concrete members require a certain bond strength between the steel and concrete to maintain prestress force. Previous studies have indicated that when reinforcing steel in concrete is cathodically polarized, a chemical change of the cement near the steel-concrete interface occurs; and this can reduce the bond strength. In the present research experiments were conducted with concrete specimens that contained either a non-stressed seven wire steel tendon or a single strand through the longitudinal direction. The specimens were cathodically polarized with current densities ranging between 50 and 2500 mA/m^2 of steel. Upon achieving a pre-determined charge density transfer, the steel was pulled relative to the concrete until the bond was broken. Results indicate that a total charge density transfer of up to 14000 A*h/m^2 of steel, may introduce an average 16 percent decrease in ultimate bond strength. This and other data were evaluated in order to assess if cathodic protection, as utilized for corrosion control, is likely to compromise structural integrity of pretensioned concrete members and structures.