Ecs Qa 2015
Ecs Qa 2015
ECS Q&A
Preface
With rising requirements for durability in prestressed concrete structures, many people have been interested
in anticorrosive, coated PC steel products. Of course cement grouting systems are the most popular method for
corrosion protection because of its high anticorrosive potential and economic efficiency. As customers’ needs
have grown for both long life concrete structures and short construction times, global interest has focused on
anticorrosive coated PC steel. In light of this growing market demand, Sumiden Wire has promoted the use of
Epoxy Coated and Filled Strand (ECS) for PC structures to meet their customers’ needs.
Now in Japan, the use of ECS has spread. ECS has enabled the construction of advanced permanent structures
in that market. ECS is expected to be used not only for improving the durability of the structure but also
shortening the construction time. For example, ECS is the first choice for external tendons inside box girders
in Japan.
The following are answers to frequently asked questions about ECS. We also summarized the main features
and constructional precautions for ECS from the aspects of material, design and construction.
We hope this document helps the reader understand more about our ECS.
List of contents
Q-1. What kind of standard / recommendation is applied for Epoxy Coated Strand?----------------------------P4
Q-2.How long Epoxy resin can be expected to last as an anticorrosion coating?---------------------------------P5
Q-3. How many types of ECS are available?--------------------------------------------------------------------------P7
Q-4. What are the special features of using ECS?---------------------------------------------------------------------P8
Q-5. Is there any standard for ECS?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------P11
Q-6. How do you control the coating thickness of ECS?------------------------------------------------------------P12
Q-7. How do you control holiday on Epoxy coating?----------------------------------------------------------------P13
Q-8. What kind of test data is available about the durability of ECS?---------------------------------------------P14
Q-9. Is Epoxy resin undurable to UV light exposure?---------------------------------------------------------------P15
Q-10. At a tensile strength test of the ECS, it is often observed that all wires break simultaneously.
Does it indicate a poor ductility of the ECS?----------------------------------------------------------------P17
Q-11. From an electrochemical point of view, does the ECS with a holiday or coating damage tend to
generate corrosion more aggressively comparing to Bare Strand?----------------------------------------P18
Q-12. What are the advantages in ECS against galvanized PC strand?---------------------------------------------P19
Q-13. What are the advantages in prefabricated multi ECS cable against other prefabricated multi cable?---P21
Q-14. What capacitance of cable is available by using ECS?--------------------------------------------------------P23
Q-15. What kind of anchorage parts are used for ECS?---------------------------------------------------------------P24
Q-16. What is the situation PE covered ECS suitable for?------------------------------------------------------------P25
Q-17. What is the precaution in design with using ECS?-------------------------------------------------------------P26
Q-18. What kinds of application are there for ECS?-------------------------------------------------------------------P27
Q-19. Is ECS suitable for chloride attack region?----------------------------------------------------------------------P28
Q-20. Is there any case that ECS has been applied for outer cable?-------------------------------------------------P29
Q-21. Is there any case that ECS has been applied for inner cable?-------------------------------------------------P32
Q-22. Is there any case that ECS has been applied for stay cable?--------------------------------------------------P33
Q-23. Is there any case that ECS has been applied for ground anchor system?-----------------------------------P34
Q-24. Is ECS available for pre-tensioning system?--------------------------------------------------------------------P35
Q-25. Is it possible to install ECS by using pushing machine?------------------------------------------------------P36
Q-26. What is the precaution for preventing damage of coating surface during construction?-----------------P37
Q-27. What kind of treatment would be needed for repairing damaged ECS?-----------------------------------P38
Q-28. What is the precaution for tensioning and re-tensioning ECS? ---------------------------------------------P39
Q-29. Where is ECS manufactured?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------P40
Q-1
What kind of standard / recommendation is applied for Epoxy Coated Strand?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Epoxy Coated & Filled Strand (ECS) is known as an anti-corrosion seven-wire PC Strand used for permanent structures.
Standards and recommendations are as follows.
Q-2
How long can Epoxy resin be expected to last as an anti-corrosion coating?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
Epoxy resin has been introduced in the industrial world since at least the 1940’s. The following description is a simulation
of the durability of Epoxy resin when used for over 100 years.
There are many prediction methods for plastic coatings. One of the most severe conditions for aging coatings is dipping
in sea water. The lifespan of an anticorrosion coating under sea water is best predicted by the penetration time of chlorides.
Chlorides are one of the strongest corrosion-accelerating factors from the outer surface of the coating to the interface
between the coating and the steel. This means corrosion starts once the chloride ions penetrate through the coating layer.
This fact was verified by experiments on several kinds of coating membrane soaked into simulated sea water. In these
experiments, the length of time for the chloride ions to hit the surface of inner steel coincides with the length of time until
blister appearance.
The following graph (next page) shows the result of an extrapolation of the relationship between coating thickness and
lifespan of the anti-corrosion property of an epoxy coating with direct contact to seawater based on the Fick’s law*1. It
shows 400 micrometers thickness of epoxy coating is enough for 100 years durability, even in seawater.
*1---The Law of Fick: The most fundamental law for describing material transfer by diffusion. It is well known actual
diffusion phenomena, such as diffusion of chlorides into a coating layer, obey the second law of Fick. According to this
law diffusion distance is proportional to the square root of diffusion time. There is a linear relationship between diffusion
distance and time in the double logarithmic plot.
It is important to recognize this plot is based on coatings dipped directly into seawater. Although predicting the lifespan
of ECS in an actual structure is hard to perfectly judge, considering the environment inside a box girder is much more
moderate than continuous, direct exposure to sea water in corrosiveness, this data suggests ECS is capable of enduring
over 100 years when used as an external cable in a concrete box girder.
Q-3
How many types of ECS are available?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
* 4 types of ECS are available. FLOGARDTM , FLOBONDTM (high bonding), PE sheathed FLOGARDTM and PE
sheathed FLOBONDTM, in each sizes are available now.
Types of ECS
1st anticorrosive layer 2nd anticorrosive layer Application
Material Surface Aspect of 1st Material
layer
FLOGARDTM Epoxy resin Smooth None *External tendon for
box girder
*Stay cable
FLOBONDTM Epoxy resin Embedded sand for None *Inner tendon
good adhesion with *Pre-tensioning system
concrete *Stay cable
PE-sheathed Epoxy resin Smooth Polyethylene coating *Outer tendon for box
FLOGARDTM with close contact to 1st girder (ex, for severe
layer chloride polluted area)
*Stay cable
PE-sheathed Epoxy resin Embedded sand for Polyethylene sheath (no *Ground anchor
FLOBONDTM good adhesion with adhesion with 1st layer)
concrete
FLOBONDTM FLOGARDTM
* PE-sheathed
PE Sheathing is not
applied by Sumiden
Wire. A third-party
extruder would need
to be hired by the
customer.
PE-sheathed* FLOGARDTM PE-sheathed* FLOBONDTM
Q-4
What are the special features of using ECS?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
The 3 features mentioned below are the strongest advantages of ECS compare to other anticorrosive coated strands.
(1) High corrosion protection
(2) Construction durability
(3) Excellent resistance against fretting fatigue
not only by single strand but also with multi-strand cables. Please request the test report.
Coating thickness
400~1200mm Holiday free coating
Strong adhesion
between the epoxy
and the steel surface
Prevention of mutual
Embedded grit provides Movements of wires provides
exceptional adhesion (only exceptional fatigue resistance
F L O B O N D T M )
Q-5
Is there any standard for ECS?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
Yes. ECS is specified in ASTM A882 and ISO 14655.
In the United States, ECS (Epoxy Coated Seven-Wire Prestressing Steel Strand) is defined by ASTM A882. In the first
version of ASTM A882, it included both non-filled ECS type and filled ECS type. However, in recent versions, only filled
ECS type is allowed because the anticorrosion potential of non-filled ECS is unreliable. ASTM requires several severe
environment tests such as salt spraying test and chloride ion penetration test. Sumiden Wire’s ECS passed each of these
strict tests.
ASTM also requires the test for adhesion between strand and concrete. FLOBONDTM (high adhesive type of ECS) has
equal or higher adhesiveness to that of bare strand.
On the other hand, in ISO (ISO14655-1999), both non-filled type ECS and full-filled type ECS are standardized.
As for the range of standard coating thickness is from 0.38 mm to 1.14 mm for each crown region in ASTM. And in
ISO, the standard coating thickness is from 0.4 mm to 0.9 mm for all crown regions of filled ECS. Sumiden Wire’s ECS
is compliant with these international standards.
Q-6
How do you control the coating thickness of ECS?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
We control coating thickness by measuring it at the crowns of each wire every 2,000 linear feet or less during production.
The thickness is checked using a magnetic thickness gauge.
Q-7
How do you control holidays in the epoxy coating?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
We take two strategies below for eliminating the holiday in the epoxy coating.
1. Keeping minimum coating thickness over 400 micrometer, twice of theoretical minimum holiday-free coating
thickness.
2. Checking the entire length of ECS by aqueous electrolyte inline holiday detector charged 67.5V DC.
3. Checking the entire length of ECS by inline holiday detector charged 3000V DC.
It is well recognized the more coating thickness increases, the frequency of holiday occurrence decreases. As a typical
example, we take a chart of the relationship between an epoxy coating thickness and the frequency of holiday occurrence
reported by Japan Society of Civil Engineers. You can see the relationship between them in the graphic below. Over
~200 micrometers, the frequency of holiday occurrence drops to near 0; therefore, the minimum coating thickness range
of ECS @ 400 micrometer contains a 2x safety margin. We can guarantee a holiday-free condition for our ECS based on
this safety margin.
12
Number of holiday (/m)_
10 ----Steel Bar A
---Steel Bar B
8
0
100 150 200 250
Mean coating thickness (micrometer)
Q-8
What kind of test data is available about the durability of ECS?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
We have many kinds of test results for the durability of ECS summarized below. Because of ECS’s high durability, it
has passed all examinations. If you have any interest in the detailed test reports, please let us know. We can provide the
detailed reports.
1. Anticorrosion test
1.1 Salt spraying test (ASTM B 117-73)
With tensile stress, 0.7 Pu. 3000hour - Test result: passed
1.2 Water dipping test (ASTM G 20-77)
Distilled water 45 days dipping - Test result: passed
1.3 Chemical resistant test (ASTM G 20-77)
* 3mol of Calcium Chloride, 45 days dipping - Test result: passed
* 3mol of Sodium Chloride, 45 days dipping - Test result: passed
* Saturated Sodium Hydroxide, 45 days dipping - Test result: passed
Q-9
Is Epoxy resin durable against moderate UV light exposure?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
Yes, but the epoxy resin is not suitable for use in strong, prolonged UV light radiation environments. Prolonged exposure
in direct sunshine has enough energy to degrade the epoxy coating, but the exposure in a short period, like a few months
of construction time, does not have any negative effect on ECS’s anticorrosion or ductility performance.
Every plastic resin which is exposed to direct sunshine without any kinds of UV resistant additive, such as carbon or UV
absorbent, will degrade when exposed to UV light for a long period of time. Our ECS’s epoxy coating contains a small
amount of UV resistant additives for achieving excellent mechanical properties. Furthermore our epoxy resin has UV
absorbent features inside of its structure, and this absorbent feature could be damaged by prolonged UV exposure.
Therefore, we do not recommend the use of ECS in applications where direct exposure to sunshine over long periods of
time would occur such. In such a case, we recommend the use of PE sheathed ECS.
Although theoretically epoxy resin is degradable by UV exposure, our ECS does not degrade over a short period of time.
We have test results of our ECS with UV exposure as mentioned below.
1. No sign of corrosion of bare strand underneath coating layer could be found on ECS after 720 cycles of multiple cycle
corrosion resistant tests. This test is standardized on Japan Highway Standard 403-199(2). This test would be the
equivalent UV exposure of a few years UV exposure in Tokyo, Japan.
2. A set of epoxy coated strand samples have been tensioned and exposed to direct sunshine in Okinawa prefecture for
over 15 years (since 2000), near the same latitude as Florida, with no sign of corrosion to the bare strand underneath the
coating layer and no blistering caused by degradation of the coating layer. This test is still being performed.
[The amplitude of UV light in Okinawa prefecture is about 8W/m2 (average value from 1973 to 1982: reported by Local
Meteorological Observatory of Japan). And the amplitude of UV light in the box girder, about 0.015W/m2 (typical value
of fluorescent bulb, the only expectable source for UV light), is about 1/500 of direct sunshine in Okinawa. Therefore, it
can be said 7 years durability in Okinawa is equivalent to approximately 3500 years durability in the box girder.
Q-10
At a tensile strength test of the ECS, it is often observed all wires break simultaneously. Does
this indicate poor ductility of the ECS?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No.
With the ECS, it is often observed that all wires break at the same time like a PC bar. However, such a failure mode
occurs only with a tensile strength test when the first wire breaks at its breaking strength. The impact of the first break
transferred through the epoxy film to the other wires that are also reaching to their breaking strength. Therefore, the ECS
has more chance to break simultaneously comparing a bare strand at a tensile strength test.
However, in case one wire accidentally breaks at an actual tensioning strength such as 70% of its breaking strength,
other wires at the 70% of the breaking strength cannot be broken by the impact of the first wire failure.
Also, because of the cushioning effect of the ECS, the stress concentrations in the gripping region that are typical when
testing bare strand are significantly reduced when testing epoxy coated strand. This cushioning effect in the gripping
region typically allows for virtually simultaneous rupture of all 7 wires in the free length of the test span.
Q-11
From an electrochemical point of view, does the ECS with a holiday or coating damage tend to
generate corrosion more aggressively comparing to Bare Strand?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
No. Assuming the corrosion is generated by natural penetration of chlorine ion from concrete surface, the mechanism of
the extension of corrosion, for example bare strand, is as follows:
- 1 Creation of Passivation films by alkaline environment (Stable condition)
Concrete
Passivation film
Steel
e-
Anode Cathode
Electrochemical reaction speed (corrosion speed = iA) depends on the area of cathode as shown below. A bare strand can
have unlimited cathode area, where the ECS has non-conductive epoxy cover around the damaged area. Therefore, ECS,
even when damaged, shall has less risk to propagate corrosion when compared to bare strand.
Anode cathode
Bare Strand ECS with pinhole or
Corrosion Speed = iA = n x iC coating damage
Q-12
What are the advantages of ECS compared to galvanized PC strand?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
There are five advantages for ECS mentioned below.
(1) Anti-corrosion ability
(2) Strength of strand
(3) Reactivity with cement grout
(4) Fretting corrosion resistance
(5) Good environmental acceptability
evidence and the commonly established theory is that hydrogen molecules will not harm strained steel, we think galvanized
PC strand should not be used when in direct contact with cement grout or concrete.
(Bare)
(ECS)
Q-13
What are the advantages in prefabricated multi ECS cable against other prefabricated multi
cable?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course all of benefits of a single ECS against another single PC strand remains even in the form of a multi cable. The
additional benefits of an ECS multi cable are outlined below.
First, the ECS advantages compared to a prefabricated multi monostrand cable are:
(1) Smaller diameter of cable
(2) Smaller bending radius of cable
(3) Easier to anchor
Other advantages compared to a prefabricated multi galvanized cable are mentioned below.
(1) Small diameter of cable
(2) Strong strength of cable
(1) As mentioned at Q-12, ECS has high resistance for fretting corrosion. Galvanized PC strand is often applied for stay
cable as an element of the multi cable with an additional outer sheath for preventing fretting corrosion. This makes the
total diameter of a multi galvanized cable larger than that of a multi ECS cable.
(2) As mentioned at Q-12, during the galvanizing process, the heat treatment decreases the strength of the galvanized PC
strand. On the other hand, the strength is not decreased during the process of applying the epoxy coating. This allows ECS
to retain almost of its original strength compared to the original bare strand in a multi cable as well.
ECS
Filler (PP)
HDPE
Q-14
What capacity of cable is available by using ECS?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
Any capacity of cable can be manufactured by using 12.7 mm, 15.2 mm or 15.7 mm diameter ECS. The cable type
regularly prepared is listed below.
Capacity of ECS Cable
For Outer Cable For Inner Cable For Stay Cable
7S 3S 9S
9S 4S 12S
12S* 5S 19S
19S 9S 27S
27S 12S 37S
19S 48S
61S
91S
108S
Q-15
What kinds of anchorage parts are used for ECS?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
ECS has to be anchored using specially designed anchorage parts and wedges.
ECS has a relatively thick coating for good anticorrosion. Wide and deep wedge teeth are needed for good anchorage of
the strand. The teeth have to be designed to penetrate through the coating layer and directly bite the steel surface to prevent
slipping through.
Do not use wedges designed for bare strand for ECS anchorage. Ignoring this caution may cause severe accident involving
human lives.
Specially designed epoxy coated strand bite-through wedges are available from a US manufacturing company. Contact
your Sumiden Wire sales representative for more information.
Q-16
What applications are suitable for PE sheathed ECS?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We recommend applying PE sheathed ECS for the following applications.
(1) For external tendons directly exposed to sunshine like external tendons located outside of girder or stay cable
(2) For external tendons requiring long term reliability in severe chloride polluted regions
(1) HDPE containing carbon filler has a high resistance for UV induced degradation. In general, epoxy resin does not have
high resistance for UV attack. However, PE sheathed ECS achieves high durability against direct UV light exposure
without losing any special features of ECS.
(2) HDPE is a relatively soft material compared to epoxy resin. At the deviator region, tensioned strand gets high side
pressure and it compresses the coating layer of the strand. In such situations of high side pressure, HDPE behaves as a
cushioning layer and this reduces the epoxy coating thickness reduction cause by side pressure. Of course without PE
sheathed epoxy coating enough thickness remains even after the compression at the deviator region, but in the cases where
double or triple durability is required, such as a severe chloride polluted region, we recommend using PE sheathed ECS
to further protect the epoxy coating from thickness reduction by compression. HDPE also works as a protector for epoxy
coating by preventing thickness reduction due to abrasion with rough handling.
Q-17
What is the precaution in design when using ECS?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
(1) Setting loss has to be 9mm
(2) Making choices from Normal relaxation and low relaxation strand.
* We can produce both normal relaxation ECS and low relaxation ECS. If you are interested in using low relaxation ECS,
please contact us.
Q-18
What kinds of applications are there for ECS?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The most typical applications are mentioned below.
Q-19
Is ECS suitable for chloride attack region?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
Yes. ECS is very suitable even for severe chloride polluted region. ECS anticorrosive coating was applied for not only PC
strand but also for many applications, such as coated steel plate for oversea metal bridge or coated body of oceangoing
boats. The epoxy resin itself has a very high chemical resistance ability and can endure against direct contact with many
chemicals, like acid or alkali, not only chloride.
Furthermore, the minimum thickness of the epoxy coating of our normal ECS is over ~400 micrometers. This coating
thickness is more than enough compared to that of generally used epoxy coatings in other steel products where thickness
is typically from 50 to 150 micrometers. Therefore, the anticorrosive ability of ECS, even in severe chloride polluted
region, is at a very high level.
In some cases FLOBONDTM, with quartz sand embedded on its surface to allow high bonding performance with concrete,
is available with embedding into grout inside of sheath, as more anticorrosive ability for coated tendon. PE sheathed
FLOBONDTM is also available to allow even higher durability against chloride attack.
Now in Japan, ECS became the first choice for anticorrosive coated PC strand for chloride polluted regions. Even in the
most severe chloride polluted region, the sea side of Okinawa prefecture, ECS has been applied for many numbers of
bridges. And that number is steadily increasing because of the high reliability of ECS’s anticorrosive ability.
PE covered FLOGARDTM
Q-20
Is there any case that ECS has been applied for external tendons?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
Yes. In many cases, ECS has been applied for external tendons because of the special features of ECS mentioned below.
(1) Easy to check
(2) Easy to install
(3) Easy to repair (Possibility of exchange to suitable design )
(1) ECS without PE covering or sheathing can be used for external tendons inside a girder. In this application, the epoxy
coating is visible in the structure after installation, so it is very easy to check the appearance of the coating. In fact, we
have the experience of checking the inside of a box girder on the BY433 bridge owned by the Metropolitan Expressway
Public Corporation in Japan (over 100 meters of girder with approximately ten cables, each containing 19 strands of ECS.)
All of the external tendons could be checked by several people in just a few days. After 10 years of service, no abnormality
was found. This level of inspect ability is not possible with a grouted sheath bare strand installation. The ease of checking
ECS is one of its remarkable features.
In the girder of BY433 Bridge, checking appearance of ECS with flash light and bare eye
(After 10 years of service, no abnormality was found)
(2) The installation of ECS for external tendons in a girder is much easier than installing a grouted bare strand tendon.
The ECS does not need a grouting sheath in the free length; therefore the tasks of installing the sheath and filling it with
grout are avoided.
Furthermore, misalignment, like abnormal crossing or twisting of strands, can be easily recognized by monitoring
throughout the installation process. Therefore, if such an abnormality is observed, it can be corrected before the tensioning
process.
(3) When and if a defect or malfunction is found, repair and/or replacement of a cable can be performed. This is an
excellent feature of ECS external tendons. If only a repair in needed, the coating of the ECS can be repaired with a 2-part
epoxy patch kit system. This repair will restores the corrosion resistance back to its original state.
In case of a malfunction when exchanging the tendon is required, ECS cables can be exchanged. However, please design
the structure to make exchanging ECS feasible by taking care in the structure dimensions and the accessibility of the
anchorages.
Repaired part
Q-21
Is there any case where ECS has been applied for an inner cable?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes. In many cases, ECS has been applied for inner cables in chloride polluted region of Japan because of the recognition
of the high anticorrosive ability of ECS.
In most cases ECS, FLOBONDTM, was placed in the sheath filled by cement grout for achieving much further anticorrosive
ability.
We recommend to apply ECS especially for inner cable as a connecting tendon for precast segments or slabs.
Shiosai Bridge (Shizuoka, Japan) : applying ECS, FLOBONDTM, for inner cable
Q-22
Is there any case that ECS has been applied for stay cable?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
Yes. Many customer esteem ECS as a suitable tendon for stay cable because of its high anticorrosive ability that is kept
even during construction.
The reference list of Extra dosed bridges and Stay Cable bridges using ECS
Max
Length No. of The year of Types of
Name Location Span
(m) Strand completion bridges
(m)
Odawara bridge Kanagawa,Japan 268 122 19 1994 Extra dosed
Link Way bridge Singapore 285 140 1 1997 Stay cable
Second Mandaue-
Philippines 410 185 48 1999 Extra dosed
Mactan bridge
Sashiki bridge Kumamoto,Japan 223 105 19 2001 Extra dosed
Fukaura bridge Niigata, Japan 140 90 19 2001 Extra dosed
Tobiuo bridge Shuzuoka, Japan 385 130 37 2002 Extra dosed
Sannohe bridge Aomori, Japan 400 200 19, 27 2004 Extra dosed
Yanagawa bridge Iwate, Japan 264 132 27, 37 2007 Extra dosed
Q-23
Is there any case that ECS has been applied for Ground anchor system?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
Yes. PE-sheathed FLOBONDTM has key features of prestressing strand for permanent anchor system.
Q-24
Is ECS available for pre-tensioning system?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FLOBONDTM, high adhesion type of ECS, is suitable for pre-tensioning system. In Japan, in many bridges, ECS has
been adopted as the tendon for pre-tensioning system. In United States, bridges commencing with San Mateo Bridge
over San Francisco bay, have adopted ECS for pre-tensioning system.
As a tendon for a pre-tensioning system, one of the most important features is adhesion with concrete. FLOBONDTM is a
kind of ECS with embedded quartz sand on its surface for good adhesion with concrete. The adhesion force of
FLOBONDTM is equivalent to or superior to that of bare strand measured by transmitted length of adhesion force.
In practical use, there is one very important caution. When using FLOBONDTM for a pre-tensioning system,
detensioning has to be done below 66 degree Celsius in the temperature of the concrete because the epoxy resin will
soften under high temperature. In such situation, adhesion given by surface quartz sand embedded on Epoxy surface will
not achieve its full potential. This may cause dangerous accidents like slipping of strand in concrete and/or losing
tensioning force.
Q-25
Is it possible to install ECS using a pushing machine?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes. It is possible to use a specially designed pushing machine for installing ECS. However, using generally used pushing
machine with steel capstans will damage the coating surface.
Pushing machines can be used for both FLOBONDTM, high adhesion type, and FLOGARDTM.
Q-26
What is the precaution for preventing damage of the coating surface during construction?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
The most basic precaution is to prevent ECS from direct contact with something harder than the epoxy resin like metal or
concrete. Practically, installation personnel can cover expected contact points with the strand during installation with soft
materials like thick fabrics, PVC pipes, wood, etc.
On the surface of bridges, placing plastic pipes and/or wooden plates along the pathline needed for ECS installation is
very effective. Inside the girder, putting thin-piled carpet along the passage of ECS is also effective.
We can provide past examples of protection methods with photographs at your request.
In the position where ECS will change direction, specially designed turn rollers are also necessary. The turn-rollers should
be equipped with special plastic rollers to prevent surface damage of the ECS. Please contact us for further information.
ECS cable
Q-27
What kind of treatment is needed to repair damaged eooxy coating?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
Damaged epoxy coating should be touched up using a specially designed touch up patch kit.
These patch kits are designed to have the same anticorrosive ability as the original epoxy coating. This was confirmed
by salt spray tests and exposure test in severe salty, corrosive regions.
Please refer to the instruction manual to learn how to use the epoxy patch kits.
Test result of 3,000 hour salt spray test with epoxy patch kit repair on an artificial crack
Q-28
What is the precaution for tensioning and re-tensioning ECS?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -
It is very important to use specially designed anchoring wedges and tensioning wedges inside the jack used for tensioning
ECS.
The main frame of a jack used for ECS looks the same as for bare strand, but the jack for ECS is different in the detail
such as the shape of the wedge pocket. Please do not us a jack designed for bare strand tensioning, when tensioning ECS.
Ignoring this caution may cause a severe accident involving human lives.
It is important to make a plan to re-strain with the lowest tension on the consideration of maximum stroke of jack for re-
tensioning ECS. It is also necessary for re-tensioning to apply specially designed lubricant agent, MoricoatTM, on surface
of wedges to ease attach and detach of wedges to ECS.
Q-29
Where is ECS manufactured?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
We could supply ECS from those factories mentioned below to all over the world.
Please contact us for more information.
Factories in the world
SSW
Sumitomo (SEI) Steel Wire Corp.,
Itami, Hyogo, Japan
JFS
Jiangyin Fasten Sumiden New Material Co.,
Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China
SWPC
Sumiden Wire Products Corp.,
Stockton, California, U.S.A.
Index
A L
ASTM A882-------------------P11 Low relaxation--------P26
Atmospheric exposure test-------------------P14 M
Anti-corrosion ability--------------P5,8,14,19,28 Manufacture----------------------P40
Advantage------------------------------P19~22 Multiple cycle corrosion test-------------P14,15
Anchorage parts--------------------P24,34 Multi cable-------P8,21
Adhesion with concrete-----------P7,11,35 N
B-C Normal relaxation------P26
Code------------------------------P4 O
Corrosion protection--------P5,8,14,19 Outer cable--------P6,8,23,25,27, 29
Coating thickness-------P8~12,28 P
Chemical resistant test-------P14,28 PE-covered FLOGARDTM ------P7, 10,15,25,28
Capacitance of cable------P23, PE-Sheathed FLOBONDTM ------P7, 34
Curl---------P37 Permanent anchor system-----P27,34
D Pre-tensioning system-------P7,35
Damage-------P15,18,30,34, 36~ 38 Pushing machine--------P36
E Precaution----------P26,37~39
Environmental acceptability------P18,19 Q
F R
TM
FLOGARD ---------P7, 30, 36 Recommendation------------P4
FLOBONDTM ----------P7, 28, 30, 32, 34~ 36 Reactivity with cement grout-------P19
Fretting----------P8, 19,20,22 Relaxation----------P26
G Repair----------P29,38
Guideline-------------P4 Re-tensioning-----------P39
Ground anchor---------P7,27, 34 S
H Standard---------P4
Holiday (pinhole)---------P9,13,18 Salt spraying test--------P9,11,14
I Setting loss---------P26
ISO 14655---------P11 Stay cable----------P7,22,23,27,33
Inner cable----------P23,27,32 SSW---------P40
J-K SSWP--------P40
JFS-----------P40 SWPC--------P40
T
Toughness for construction site------P8
Temporary------P27
U
UV------P14, 15, 25
V
W
Water dipping test-----P5,14
Weather resistant test----P14
Wedge-------P24, 39
X
Y
Z
Others and Number
100 years durability-----P5
* Test result of 3000hour salt spraying test with touch up treatment on artificial crack---------------------------P38
* The second Mactan Bridge----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P41