Experimental campaign for corrosion assessment of 50-year-old PC deck beams

Several prestressed concrete (PC) deck beams, stored in a testing site after dismantling a 50-year-old viaduct, have been subjected to inspection and diagnostics activities within the BRIDGE|50 research project. This paper discusses the results of field and laboratory tests carried out on these structural elements. Based on visual observations and magnetic and electrochemical tests, concrete samples have been collected from different PC deck beams in order to understand the cause of their degradation conditions. Chemical, physical, and microstructural properties of samples from selected beams are investigated based on laboratory tests focusing on the measurement of the actual carbonation penetration, chloride penetration profiles, and other durability-related parameters that are fundamental for corrosion assessment of PC deck beams.