Unexpected corrosion related failures of post tensioned tendons, often associated with grouting deficiencies, have brought interest in examining new corrosion control alternatives. Among those, cathodic protection (CP) merits attention given its success in arresting corrosion in many applications. Several major challenges however are of concern. Those include among others the risk of hydrogen embrittlement, the need to reliably deliver protecting current to a crowded strand assembly in a constrained space and a highly resistive electrolyte, securing appropriate anode configuration, placement and ohmic loss control, interfacial aging at the anode, and reliable polarization monitoring. A basis for discussion of these issues is introduced by the device of presenting a “Mark 0” conceptual design of a tendon CP system and its hypothetical operation. A plan for evaluating the potential benefits and drawbacks is presented as well, for eventual rational decision on whether subsequent follow up work is warranted or not. Some current alternatives to CP for tendon corrosion mitigation are discussed as well.

Subject
Embrittlement, Electric current, Cathodic protection, Tendons, Reference electrodes, Implementation, Wiring, Grout, Insulators, Corrosion protection, Polarization, Electrodes, Anodes
Keywords:
Cathodic protection, tendons, conceptual design, risk, hydrogen embrittlement, benefit
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2020
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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