Asian Journal of Current Research

Post-tensioned (PT) concrete remains a cornerstone of modern bridge engineering; yet, the hidden durability of its tendons ultimately governs its long-term structural performance. This systematic critical review synthesizes ninety-five studies published between 2010 and 2024 to examine the persistent disconnect between rapid technological innovation and its limited implementation in bridge management. Although significant progress has been achieved in advanced materials, non-destructive testing (NDT), and structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies, their real-world influence has lagged behind. This study argues that the gap is not a temporary delay in adoption but a systemic issue rooted in misaligned research incentives, institutional inertia, and unmanaged trade-offs between durability, monitorability, and cost. To address this imbalance, the paper introduces the PT Life-Cycle Trade-off Analysis Framework, a qualitative decision-support tool designed to make these competing objectives explicit and manageable. The review concludes that the central challenge in bridge management is no longer technological innovation, but the strategic integration of existing tools into the complex socio-technical systems that govern infrastructure. By reframing innovation as an integration challenge, this work urges a shift in both research and practice toward the translation of data into reliable, actionable intelligence.