Work

Effect of hydrogen embrittlement on mechanical properties of non-stressed prestressing steel

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to elucidate the effect of hydrogen on the structure of commonly used prestressed concrete steel strand (PC strand) of concrete bridges and other structures in the non-stressed state to determine the general behaviour of the characteristic steel material, which would lead to further investigation of specimens in the prestressed state. For the experimental part of the research, a system was set up for saturating the samples with hydrogen, which diffuses into the steel structure in atomic form. These specimens were then subjected to tensile testing according to EN ISO 15630-3 to reveal the reduced mechanical properties of the prestressed concrete steel strand specimen caused by the diffusion of hydrogen into the material structure. After the tensile tests, the fracture surfaces were analysed on a scanning electron microscope to verify the effect of hydrogen.

Source: Acta Polytechnica CTU Proceedings

DOI: 10.14311/app.2025.53.0024

Authors: Tomáš Chobotský, Martin Kubový, Andrea Milerová, Adam Čítek

Institution: Czech Technical University in Prague

Language: English

Topic: Hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion behaviors in metals

Subfield: Metals and Alloys

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Grantová Agentura České Republiky

Award: Study of mechanisms and kinetics of hydrogen corrosion damage of conventional prestressing reinforcement in concrete bridge structures