Influence of Prestress Level on Corrosion-Induced Cracking in Prestressed Concrete Beams

This paper investigates the influence of different levels of prestress in seven-wire steel strands on the initiation and propagation of concrete cracking caused by corrosion in prestressed concrete beams. Four beams with different prestress levels were cast, steam-cured, and then exposed to accelerated corrosion through impressed current for three months. Throughout the testing period, the appearance of cracks on concrete surface was carefully monitored and recorded. Crack widths were measured at regular intervals to analyze the propagation rate of concrete cracking over time. The results demonstrated that crack propagation occurred at a generally steady rate; however, specimens with higher prestress levels exhibited a more rapid and pronounced cracking behavior. Raising prestress level from 0 to 70% increased crack width by about 70%. These findings highlight the critical role that prestress intensity plays in durability and long-term performance of prestressed concrete members exposed to corrosive environments.