In 2008, Riata Holdings acquired a ten-year old encapsulated post-tensioned parking garage as part of a property purchase. During an initial inspection, six unbonded tendons were identified as suspicious due to severe corrosion. Four of the six tendons were in three girders and two tendons were in the seven inch slab. VSL was engaged to investigate the identified tendons and repair them if necessary.   

VSL began the investigation by removing the end pour back concrete on a 25-tendon girder. After removing the concrete, nine more heavily corroded anchorages were discovered. Concerned with the amount of corrosion on the anchors, VSL later removed the end pour back concrete on other girders and discovered severe corrosion existed in most of the tendons. VSL also observed that no grease cap had been installed on any of the tendons as is customary for encapsulated post-tension systems. These findings were brought to the attention of the site Engineer. Upon involving both Owners and their Engineers, VSL was instructed to perform an investigation on the entire parking garage.  

During the investigation, VSL removed the concrete anchor pockets on all the girders, beams and slab tendons throughout the parking garage exposing severe corrosion of many of the tendon anchorages.  In several locations, the strand was completely disintegrated due to corrosion - to the extent that the anchor could be removed by hand once the concrete pour back was removed. Once all the anchorage pockets were exposed, they were inspected by the Owner, their Engineer, and VSL. Based on this inspection, it was concluded that all of the beam and girder tendons would need to be replaced (included anchorages) and approximately 64% of the slab tendons would need to be replaced.

VSL successfully replaced all the beam, girder and designated slab tendons and anchorages, injected grease into the protection sleeves behind the anchorages and installed grease caps. In addition, VSL performed other repairs including caulking, concrete levelling, epoxy injection, and patching.   

Working together with the Owners and their Engineers, VSL was able to complete the repairs without impacting or delaying the sale of the property.