Construction and Field Evaluation of Electrically Isolated Tendons in a Prestressed Concrete Spliced Girder Bridge
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 25, Issue 7
Abstract
This paper describes the first application of Electrically Isolated Tendon (EIT) technology in the United States. These systems have been developed to provide a level of quality assurance for post-tensioned strand systems in bridge applications. The EIT system is intended to provide electrical isolation between the strand inside the post-tensioning duct and the reinforcement outside of the duct system thus reducing the potential for corrosion to occur. This is achieved using plastic tendon ducts, additional protection of the ducts, modified tendon trumpets, electrical isolation plates at the tendon anchorages, and encapsulation of the strand anchors. A demonstration was conducted with support of the FHWA and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The system consists of a three-span continuous bridge composed of pretensioned Pennsylvania Bulb tees spliced and post-tensioned. The bridge system was monitored during beam fabrication, erection, and bridge construction and an overview of the EIT installation methodology is presented. The performance of the EIT system is compared with standard recommendations on acceptable performance and was found to meet the requirements. Installation of the EIT system was not significantly different than that of a conventional post-tensioning tendon. The system provided additional assurance of the electrical isolation in the bridge and appears to be a viable approach for long-term monitoring of the performance of post-tensioned grouted tendons.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The author would like to acknowledge that the EIT demonstration was supported through funding from the Federal Highway Administration Project DTFH61-11-H-0027 Advancing Steel and Concrete Bridge Technology to Improve Infrastructure Performance. The oversight provided by the author and installation of the monitoring box was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The author would like to thank the people involved in the fabrication, erection, and construction of the bridge for their interaction and support during the project. Specifically, Reggie Holt of FHWA, Tom Macioce and Timothy Carre of PennDOT, Larry Franko of Pennoni, Troy Jenkins of Northeast Prestressed Products, Jared Musser of Trumbull, Joe Salvadori and Shahid Islam of DSI, and William Nickas of the Prestressed/Precast Institute. Special thanks to graduate student Maximillian Beedle who tirelessly assisted with field measurements in harsh weather conditions.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 25 • Issue 7 • July 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 30, 2019
Accepted: Dec 2, 2019
Published online: Apr 17, 2020
Published in print: Jul 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Sep 17, 2020
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