• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2024

Prestressed concrete (PSC) bridges are vulnerable to corrosion and fracture of tendons, and in particular, structures using the internal post-tensioned with grouted system have difficulties in maintenance due to limitations of inspection. In this study, the actual behavior of PSC I girder bridge was analyzed according to tendon damage. The target PSC I girder bridge, an decommissioned highway bridge of upper and lower bridges, had the service period of 33 years and 20 years, respectively. Deflection and concrete strain were measured according to the location of damaged tendon and loading method. Regardless of the age of the bridge, its structural performance decreased when the damaged tendon was closer to the center of the girder. The change in behavior increased as the truck load approached to the girder where the tendon cut. If the load was applied to the adjacent girder where the tendon was cut, the structural performance was likely to be maintained due to the influence of the entire structural system. The change in deflection was difficult to observe visually, while the concrete strain exceeded the cracking strain. Therefore, it is recommended that future monitoring and inspection of PSC I girder bridges should focus on concrete strain or cracking.