The durability of infrastructure components, such as prestressed concrete bridge beams, can be significantly affected by long-term deterioration associated with corrosion. Corrosion is a major concern for bridges in Virginia, due to the frequent use of deicing salts during the winter, as well as the number of structures in marine environments. The residual capacity of corrosion damaged prestressed I-beams and box beams needs to be accurately estimated to determine if damaged bridges need to be posted, and to help with making informed decisions related to repair, rehabilitation and replacement of damaged bridges. The initial stage of the research investigated the ability to determine the in-situ strength of members that have visible corrosion-related damage. In this stage, six corrosion-damaged beams were investigated. Prior to testing, the beams were visually inspected and damage was documented. The beams were then tested in the lab to determine their flexural strength. Following testing, samples of strands were removed and tested to determine their tensile properties while cores were taken to determine compressive strength. Powdered concrete samples were removed to perform chloride concentration tests. The tested strengths of the beams were compared to calculated strengths using two methods for damage estimation and two different calculation approaches. Two repair methods were then evaluated through large-scale experimental testing, aimed at restoring the strength of deteriorated prestressed concrete beams. The investigated repairs included External Post-Tensioning (PT) and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates applied to the bottom flange of beams for flexural strengthening. A total of five full-scale bridge members were tested to failure throughout this stage. All beams were subjected to monotonically increasing loads until failure. For beams repaired with external PT, the experimental test was accompanied by a detailed approach for determining the ultimate failure load, the ultimate stress in the external tendons, and the location of the failure. For beams repaired with CFRP, the experimental test was accompanied by a parametric study that was performed to determine the maximum reduction in flexural strength for which CFRP can be considered as a viable repair method to restore the lost capacity. This dissertation provides additional information on estimating the residual capacity of corrosion-damaged beams and shows the types of repair that can restore their original strength. With this information, Departments of Transportation (DOT) can properly determine what types of repair are a suitable for the damaged girders based on their level of corrosion. / Doctor of Philosophy / Many bridges in the United States were built using longitudinal members, called girders, made of prestressed concrete. In prestressed concrete, because concrete cannot resist high tensile forces, tensioned steel cables, called strands, are used to produce compression on the concrete member to improve its behavior when it is in service. Corrosion induces cracks in the concrete superstructure which accelerates the deterioration rate and can result in a partial loss of the concrete body and exposure of the embedded steel. This causes degradation in the load-carrying capacity of the bridge girders which raises a danger to vehicles, passengers, and pedestrians. The residual capacity of corrosion damaged prestressed I-beams and box beams needs to be accurately estimated to determine if damaged bridges need to be posted, and to help with making informed decisions related to repair, rehabilitation and replacement of damaged bridges. The initial stage of the research investigated the ability to determine the in-situ strength of members that have visible corrosion-related damage. In this stage, six corrosion-damaged beams were investigated. Prior to testing, the beams were visually inspected, and damage was documented. The beams were then tested in the lab. Following testing, samples of strands were removed and tested to determine their tensile properties while cores were taken to determine compressive strength. Powdered concrete samples were removed to perform chloride concentration tests. The tested strengths of the beams were compared to calculated strengths. Two repair methods were then evaluated through large-scale experimental testing, aimed at restoring the strength of deteriorated prestressed concrete beams. The investigated repairs included External Post-Tensioning (PT) and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheets applied to the bottom of beams for flexural strengthening. A total of five full-scale bridge members were tested to failure throughout this stage. All beams were subjected to monotonically increasing loads until failure. For beams repaired with external PT, the experimental test was accompanied by a detailed approach for determining the ultimate failure load, the ultimate stress in the external tendons, and the location of the failure. For beams repaired with CFRP, the experimental test was accompanied by a parametric study that was performed to determine the maximum reduction in flexural strength for which CFRP can be considered as a viable repair method to restore the lost capacity. This dissertation provides additional information on estimating the residual capacity of corrosion-damaged beams and shows the types of repair that can restore their original strength. With this information, Departments of Transportation (DOT) can properly determine what types of repair are a suitable for the damaged girders based on their level of corrosion.

[ES] La adición de fibras a la matriz cementicia ha sido una práctica común desde los años sesenta para mejorar las propiedades de los hormigones tradicionales. Con el tiempo, los avances en la tecnología han llevado a la introducción de varios tipos de fibras en el mercado, dado lugar a diferentes tipos de hormigones reforzados con fibras (FRC). En comparación con las fibras de acero, las macro- fibras sintéticas han aparecido recientemente. A pesar de los estudios sobre su comportamiento, no se ha estudiado exhaustivamente cómo la temperatura afecta al hormigón reforzado con macro-fibras sintéticas (MSFRC). El uso de MSFRC podría promoverse siempre y cuando se llevaran a cabo más investigaciones sobre su comportamiento para verificar su desempeño. El propósito de esta Tesis surge de la necesidad de comprender el comportamiento mecánico del MSFRC bajo temperaturas y aclarar ciertas implicaciones, como el efecto de la prefisuración en su envejecimiento (por temperatura). Este trabajo analiza el comportamiento a corto (3 días de exposición) y largo plazo (90 y 180 días de exposición) de tres tipos de MSFRCs y un hormigón reforzado con fibras de acero (SFRC) bajo diferentes condiciones ambientales extremas (temperaturas que oscilan entre -15 y 60 °C). Además, se evalúa el comportamiento de una macro-fibra sintética comercial, a nivel de filamento (de -30 a 140 °C) y también se estudia la interacción entre la fibra y la matriz a meso-escala (de -30 a 40 °C). Para su investigación, se han utilizado diferentes metodologías: compresión en cubos de 150 mm de lado y ensayos de flexión a tres puntos en vigas de 150 × 150 × 600 mm, ensayo uniaxial en fibras y en cilindros entallados de 150 × Ø125 mm. Todos estos ensayos se realizaron bajo las temperaturas objetivo. Los resultados muestran que las propiedades de la fibra estudiada dependen de la temperatura. Además, la temperatura y del tiempo de exposición afectan las propiedades mecánicas analizadas de los MSFRCs, pero estos efectos no son muy importantes. Estos resultados están respaldados por un estudio estadístico que, a su vez, ha permitido desarrollar una aproximación numérica sim-ple a las propiedades mecánicas del FRC cuando se diseña para condiciones ambientales extremas a lo largo del tiempo. Esta Tesis promueve la comprensión de los FRCs, particularmente los MSFRCs, mejorando la confianza en su aplicación en proyectos de ingeniería civil. / [CA] L'addició de fibres a la matriu cimentosa ha sigut una pràctica comuna des dels anys seixanta per a millorar les propietats dels formigons tradicionals. Amb el temps, els avanços en la tecnologia han portat a la introducció de diversos tipus de fibres en el mercat, resultant en diferents tipus de formigons reforçats amb fibres (FRC). En comparació amb les fibres d'acer, les macro- fibres sintètiques han aparegut recentment. Malgrat els estudis sobre el seu comportament, no s'ha estudiat exhaustivament com la temperatura afecta al formigó reforçat amb macro-fibres sintètiques (MSFRC). L'ús de MSFRC podria promoure's sempre que es dugueren a terme més investigacions sobre el seu comportament per a el seu acompliment. El propòsit d'esta Tesi sorgix de la necessitat de comprendre el comportament mecànic del MSFRC sota temperatures no estàndard i aclarir unes certes implicacions, com a elements MSFRC prefissurats i no prefissurats, en termes d'envelliment (per temperatura). Este treball analitza el comportament a curt (3 dies d'exposició) i llarg termini (90 i 180 dies d'exposició) de tres tipus de MSFRCs i un formigó reforçat amb fibres d'acer (SFRC) baix diferents condicions ambientals extremes (temperatures que oscil·len entre -15 i 60 °C). A més, s'avalua el comportament d'una fibra comercial tipus II, a nivell de filament (de -30 a 140 °C) i també s'estudia la interacció entre la fibra i la matriu a meso-escala (de -30 a 40 °C). Per al seu investigació, s'han utilitzat diferents metodologies: compressió en cubs de 150 mm de costat i assajos de flexió en tres punts en bigues de 150 × 150 × 600 mm, assaig uniaxial en fibres i en cilindres dentats de 200 × Ø125 mm. Tots estos assajos es van realitzar en condicions de servici, és a dir, a les temperatures objectiu. Els resultats mostren que les propietats de la fibra estudiada depengen de la temperatura. A més, la temperatura i el temps de exposició són factors importants en les propietats mecàniques analitzades dels MSFRCs. Estos resultats estan recolzats per un estudi estadístic que, al seu torn, ha permés desenvolupar una aproximació numèrica simple a les propietats mecàniques del FRC quan es dissenya per a condicions ambientals extremes al llarg del temps. Esta Tesi promou la comprensió dels FRC, particularment els MSFRC, que poden millorar la confiança en l'aplicació de MSFRC en projectes d'enginyeria civil. / [EN] Adding fibers into concrete-matrix has been a common practice since the sixties to enhance the properties of traditional concretes. Over time, advancements in construction sector have led to the introduction of various fiber types into the market, resulting on different types of Fiber Reinforced Concretes (FRCs). Unlike steel fibers, macrosynthetic fibers are a more recent addition. Despite studies on their behavior, there has not been investigated deeply how temperature affects macrosynthetic fiber reinforced concrete (MSFRC). The use of MSFRC could be promoted as long as further investigations into their behavior were carried out to verify their performance and mitigate mistrust. The purpose of this Thesis comes from the need to understand the mechanical behavior of MSFRC under non-standard temperatures and to clarify certain implications, as pre-cracking state of MSFRC elements in terms of aging (by temperature). This work analyzes the short- (3 days of exposure) and long-term (90 and 180 days of exposure) behavior of three types of MSFRCs and one steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) at different extreme environmental conditions (temperatures ranging from -15 to 60 °C). Additionally, the behavior of a commercial macro synthetic fiber is evaluated at single-fiber level (from -30 to 140 °C) and the interaction between fiber and matrix is also studied at meso-scale (from -30 to 40 °C). Different methodologies have been used to investigate herein: compression tests in 150 mm side cubes and three-point bending tests in 150 × 150 × 600 mm beams, uniaxial tests on individual fibers and on notched cylinders of 150 × Ø 125 mm. All these tests were performed in specimens at service conditions, that is, tested at the target temperatures, making a total of 186 cubes, 434 beams, 210 fibers and 30 cylinders. The results show that properties of the studied fiber are dependent on temperature. Additionally, temperature and time of exposure affect mechanical properties of MSFRCs, but their effects are not to a great extent. These results are supported by a statical study which, in turn, have allowed to develop a simple numerical approach to the mechanical properties of FRC when designing for extreme environmental conditions over time. This Thesis advances the understanding of the FRCs, particularly MSFRCs, which may be improved their use in some civil engineering applications. / Caballero Jorna, M. (2024). Study of the Influence of Extreme Environmental Conditions on the Behavior of Macrosynthetic Fiber Reinforced Concretes [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/207918