Title:
Prepublished: Pitting Corrosion in Prestressed Piles
Author(s):
Gray Mullins, Rajan Sen, David Ostrofsky, and Kwangsuk Suh
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
gravimetric, imaging, marine, model, pitting, prestressed piles, profile, stress concentration, tensile test
DOI:
10.14359/51745641
Date:
2/11/2025
Abstract:
This study characterized pitting corrosion in prestressed piles, links it to stress concentration factors via ultimate strength tests, and finally incorporates the findings into a simple predictive damage assessment model. Six 1/3 scale Class V concrete prestressed piles were exposed for 38 months to outdoor tidal cycles simulating a marine environment. At exposure end, 24 strands were extracted from the piles, and the corrosion loss along the strands was quantified using a new Pascal’s law-based strand profiler. This identified regions of locally higher steel loss caused by pitting corrosion. The same data set was used to confirm gravimetric loss measurements by summing localized section losses over the specimen length. Profiler data was complemented by microscopic imaging to further define pitting geometry. Ultimate load tests were conducted to examine the effect of pitting on residual tensile strength and ductility. Similitude principles were used to show how the results can be used to predict the state of in-service pile strands where only inspection report crack widths are required.