Detecting wire breaks in 7-wire post-tendioning strand of grouted tendons
Detecting wire breaks in 7-wire post-tendioning strand of grouted tendons
(OP)
Is there any way of determining if there are wire breaks in bonded (grouted) 7-wire post-tensioning strand in parking structure beams?






RE: Detecting wire breaks in 7-wire post-tendioning strand of grouted tendons
Vector Corrosion (HQ in Canada) purchased and further-developed Post-Tech's cable-break detection system based upon magnetic field to locate breaks.
I have never used the system, so I am not sure if it is capable of locating individual wire breaks in a 7-wire strand.
Info here: Link
Is there specific site-based damage of the beams (concrete spalls, excessive deflection, cracking) that are leading you towards checking for breaks?
Past grouting practices to bonded tendons sometimes resulted in voids and water presence and hence corrosion. Not sure if this is applicable in your case.
Also, probing at high and/or low points to expose the PT tendons can be economical and definitive to verifying damaged strands, albeit at the point of probing only.
RE: Detecting wire breaks in 7-wire post-tendioning strand of grouted tendons
To Ingenuity - ok, thanks I will follow up on that. I am dealing with Vector for the unbonded tendons on this project...a bit strange that they never mentioned that system to me. Thanks.