Prestressed concrete is a viable building system for bridges offering engineers and owners flexibility in bridge design and public use. Despite its advantages and general good use, documented corrosion durability problems continue to illustrate difficulties in bridge applications. The variety of materials and hardware components used in prestressed concrete is wide as is the many applications for bridge components. The corrosion mechanisms of prestressing steel can vary by many complicating factors involving the structural component, prestressing technique, construction practices, deficiencies in the building material, and the natural and service environments. Continued innovation and specification changes provide improvements but also come with new challenges. The corrosion durability problems encountered during the modern application of prestressed concrete highlight the need for the holistic consideration of manufacturing and building economics, structural design, materials performance and durability, construction practices, attainable construction quality, and maintenance tools to ensure the success of bridge construction and utility.
