Field performance of epoxy-coated reinforcing steel in Virginia bridge decks.

Details

• Creators:
  Pyc, W. A. ; Weyers, R. E. ; Weyers, R. M. ; Mokarem, D. W. ; Zemajtis, J. ; Via, C. E. ; Sprinkel, M. M. ; Dillard, J. G.
• Corporate Creators:
  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Charles E. Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Bridge decks
  • Epoxy coatings
  • Reinforced concrete bridges
  • Bridge decks
  • Chlorides
  • Corrosion prevention
  • Damage assessment
  • Deicing
  • Drill core analysis
  • Epoxy coatings
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  VTRC-OO-R16
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Virginia
• Corporate Publisher:
  Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC)
• Abstract:
  In this study, the corrosion protection performance of epoxy-coated reinforcing steel ; (ECR) was evaluated using approximately 250 concrete cores from 18 bridge decks in Virginia. ; The decks were 2 to 20 years old at the time of the investigation. The deck field inspections ; included a crack survey and cover depth determination in the right traffic lane. A maximum of ; 12 cores with the top reinforcement randomly located in the lowest 12th percentile cover depth ; were taken from each bridge deck. Because of the safety concerns associated with taking cores ; from the lower steel mat, and to minimize damage to the bridge, a maximum of only 3 cores ; were taken through the truss bars. The laboratory evaluation of the concrete cores included a ; visual examination and a determination of the carbonation depth, moisture content, absorption, ; percent saturation, and chloride content at a 13-mm depth. The rapid chloride permeability test ; was also performed for the surface and base concrete on samples obtained from the cores taken ; through the truss bars to determine chloride permeability. The ECR inspection consisted of a ; visual examination, a damage evaluation, and a determination of coating thickness and adhesion. ; The condition of the steel underneath the epoxy coating was also evaluated. ; Adhesion loss of the epoxy coating to the steel surface was detected in all but one deck ; that was 4 years old and older. The epoxy coatings were debonding from the reinforcing bars. ; Whereas a bonded coating can be expected to protect the steel, a debonded coating allows ; chlorides, moisture, and oxygen to reach the steel and initiate a rapid corrosion mechanism. ; Reinforcing bars in various stages of adhesion loss showed visible signs of a corrosion process ; underneath the coating, suggesting that ECR will provide little or no additional service life for ; concrete bridge decks in comparison to bare steel. Other systems that will provide longer ; protection against chloride-induced corrosion of the reinforcing steel with a higher degree of ; reliability should be considered.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/15333/dot_15333_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.84 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:7ec2fb950111b26d2f0e92e6bf0cdff96cd8355e7ce65456a5c0773b16fd11b1