Measurement tool kit for corrosion and defect monitoring of bridge tendons

One of the most considerable challenges of building management is to ensure the integrity and the functionality of the prestressed members during service life. But particularly corrosive and mechanical influences on the prestressing steel reinforcement strongly impair the long-term performance and durability of interior as well as of exterior tendons e.g. of concrete bridges. The durability state and degradation of tendons can be assessed primarily on the basis of the tendon's force, corrosion activity and state, fractures and other impacts and damages. For the determination of these parameters, this paper will briefly report on the application and practical verification of a measurement tool kit, which is used for monitoring, inspecting and testing of prestressed concrete (P/C)-elements with main consideration of prestressed tendons in bridges. This tool kit comprises conventional inspection and several innovative measurement and monitoring techniques, which have been developed by the authors in the last decade.