TRC2103 - Developing Guidelines for Evaluating Weathering Steel Bridges

Weathering steel is used to protect a structural member from corrosion. Owners often use weathering steel for bridges with the expectation that the weathering steel structure will not corrode. Weathering steel has improved corrosion-resistant behavior over conventional steel. However, weathering steel is not maintenance-free and will corrode if not used in proper ambient conditions. Weathering steel retards corrosion, but may require future restoration through cleaning and painting. ARDOT inspects 1192 weathering steel bridges. Of these, 908 structures are state owned and have an element level inspection. Approximately 23% of these structures are documented to have oxide film degradation of the steel protective coating, patina (AASHTO bridge inspection code 3430). Other states have also experienced this condition resulting in highway departments facing the dilemma of how to restore weathering steel sections that have experienced corrosion due to chlorides and other contaminants. This research intends to develop guidelines for Arkansas bridge inspectors to use for evaluating patina on weathering steel bridges, and to identify methods to restore steel sections that are experiencing corrosion.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $224,450
• Contract Numbers:

  TRC2103

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Arkansas Department of Transportation

  P.O. Box 2261
  Little Rock, AR  United States  72203
• Managing Organizations:

  Arkansas Department of Transportation

  P.O. Box 2261
  Little Rock, AR  United States  72203
• Project Managers:

  Romano, Kim

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

  4190 Bell Engineering
  Civil Engineering
  Fayetteville, Arkansas  United States  72701
• Principal Investigators:

  Heymsfield, Ernie

  Prinz, Gary

• Start Date: 20201130
• Expected Completion Date: 20230630
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coatings; Corrosion resistant steel; Metal bridges; Steel bridges; Weathering steel
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Maintenance and Preservation; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01762873
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Arkansas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: TRC2103
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 28 2021 12:39PM