Which risk increases when post-tensioned concrete beam develops significant chloride ingress?

💡 Explanation

When chloride ions penetrate concrete, chloride-induced corrosion occurs because the ions weaken the passive layer protecting the high-strength steel strands, leading to localized pitting and subsequent brittle fracture under tensile stress. Therefore, brittle fracture risk increases, rather than compressive strength reduction, buckling, or excessive thermal expansion which involve different degradation mechanisms.

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