Which performance reduction happens when improperly tensioned steel prestressing cables experience hydrogen embrittlement within concrete?

💡 Explanation

When improperly tensioned prestressing cables face hydrogen embrittlement, hydrogen atoms diffuse into the steel lattice disrupting metallic bonds, which reduces its ultimate tensile strength due to induced cracking. Therefore, a reduction occurs instead of creep increase, expansion change or spalling, which involve distinct degradation mechanisms.

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