Hydrogen embrittlement of cathodically protected prestressing steel

Cathodic protection is currently recognized as the most practical mean for arresting corrosion of reinforcing steel tendons in existing concrete structures, however, its appropriateness in the case of prestressed concrete is questioned because prestressing steels are relatively susceptible to environmental cracking (hydrogen embrittlement). For the purpose of studying embrittlement tendencies a series of experiments using the slow strain rate technique were performed. The susceptibility to environmental cracking was compared for different steels corresponding to ASTM grades 270 and 250 polarized at $-$900 and $-1300$ mV (SCE) in deaerated saturated Ca(OH)$\sb2$ solutions. The influence of different notch and pit geometries was studied to simulate the behavior of corroded tendons and investigate the transition between smooth and severely notched specimen behavior. Also evaluated was the evolution of the mechanical properties of tendons after excessive polarization. The different cracking processes are discussed based on test data, fractography and exposures conditions associated with concrete structures.