SELECTING POST-TENSIONING TENDON PROTECTION LEVELS

Post-tensioning is the primary structural element used in many of today's structures. These structures vary from utilitarian to some of the most elegant imaginable. Design lives of the structure also vary, but the constant between them is the necessity to protect post-tensioning tendons from corrosion. This paper will review and discuss pertinent requirements for post-tensioning tendons contained in Federation International du Beton (fib) Bulletins. Information on accessing the aggressivity of the environment, exposure of the structure or element, and classifying the protection provided by the structure will be examined. Selecting the proper post-tensioning protection level will be reviewed with examples. Finally, identifying components required of post-tensioning systems for proper tendon protection levels will be presented.