Use of Stainless-Steel Bridge Bearings for Steel Girder Bridges

Corrosion protection and prevention is a challenge for the steel bridges, especially in highly corrosive bridge environments, such as marine environment or locations with frequent exposure to deicing salts. Maintenance of steel bridge bearings is a large yearly expense for the Office of Structures in the Maryland Department of Transport State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA). Bridge bearings are the support system for the bridge girders and accommodate movements of the bridge beams and deck resulting from loading and thermal expansion/contraction. When a bearing is not functioning properly, the impacts range from mild to severe depending on the situation. On the less extreme side, poorly functioning bearing results in additional stresses to the bridge, which over time compound to other issues such as cracking/spalling to the substructure units, etc. further deteriorating the bridge. In severe cases, it has resulted in cracks in the steel girder resulting in immediate closure of a structure and emergency repairs. On movable bridges it has resulted in the bridge getting stuck in an open position resulting in closure to the roadway until repairs could be made. The main culprit to the deterioration of the bearings is water resulting in rusting of the bearings. Fixing of the bearings is extremely costly because it requires jacking of the bridge to remove and replace the impacted bearing. These reported issues raise the life cycle cost of bridge bearings. One solution to reduce the maintenance costs associated with corrosion is the use of a more corrosion-resistant steel, such as stainless steel. The use of stainless steel does not require protective coatings because chromium and the rest of the alloying elements develop a passive layer on the steel surface to protect it from atmospheric corrosion. ASTM A709 Grade 50CR (previously known as ASTM A1010), is a structural steel developed to address the corrosion issues associated with the use of traditional steels. Stainless steel bridge bearings have been installed at the Gawler River Rail Bridge near Adelaide in southern Australia. While structural bearings of stainless steel are generally more expensive than carbon steel alternatives, their use may substantially reduce life cycle costs by minimizing the need to replace them as a result of a longer service life – especially when indirect costs such as traffic management and traffic disruption are considered. A1010 stainless steel has been used for primary members in six vehicular bridges in the US [5]. In 2017, Virginia DOT completed a A1010 bridge, in which stainless steel were used for all primary and secondary members and fasteners. Duracorr stainless steel (current ASTM designation ASTM 709 Grade 50CR) is a low-cost, 12% chromium, stainless steel manufactured in the United States by ArcelorMittal USA. However, ASTM A1010 steel was developed with a low chromium-content (12% Cr) for highway bridge primary structural members to control the cost arising from large material volume use while maintaining satisfactory strength and impact toughness. Therefore, A1010 is not corrosion free and may corrode where high time-of-wetness and/or elevated chloride contents are present. Due to the relatively small volume of stainless steel consumed by bridge bearings, opting for a more costly stainless steel with elevated chromium-nickel content and higher corrosion resistance may prove more beneficial. This approach aligns with the objectives of extending service life and eliminating the need for maintenance. This study will address the question raised by the MDOT SHA Office of Structures on whether it is viable option to replace the standard metal bearings with stainless steel and eliminate any possibility of rusting. If the project's research survey results and literature search findings confirm this, a future shift to stainless steel bearings will eliminate maintenance and replacement works associated with rusted bridge bearing, potentially substantially reducing the life-cycle cost of bridge bearings.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $64,515.00
• Contract Numbers:

  SPR23B4H

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

  707 North Calvert Street
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21202
• Managing Organizations:

  Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

  707 North Calvert Street
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21202
• Project Managers:

  Wyatt, Steve

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Maryland, College Park

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  College Park, MD  United States  20742
• Principal Investigators:

  Zhang, Yunfeng

• Start Date: 20251002
• Expected Completion Date: 20260801
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Structures

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge bearings; Corrosion protection; Stainless steel; Steel bridges
• Identifier Terms: Maryland State Highway Administration
• Geographic Terms: Maryland
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01989118
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
• Contract Numbers: SPR23B4H
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 13 2026 9:16AM