A TOURIST'S DELIGHT BUT A MAINTENANCE NIGHTMARE

MAJOR HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS ARE CREATED BY THE RUNOFFS FROM OLD FAITHFUL ERUPTION AND OTHER GEYSERS AND THERMAL SPRINGS IN THE AREA. THERMAL WATER FROM THE GEYSERS AND HOT SPRINGS CONTAIN LARGE AMOUNTS OF SULPHUR AND OTHER HIGHLY CORROSIVE CHEMICALS THAT SOON DESTROY MOST MAN-MADE MATERIALS WITH WHICH THEY COME IN CONTACT. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN THE CASE OF HIGHWAY CULVERTS INSTALLED BENEATH ROADS BUILT NEAR THE GEYSERS AND MINERAL SPRINGS. SOME OF THE CULVERT MATERIALS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED WITHIN MONTHS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. A STUDY PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED TO DETERMINE WHICH MATERIALS WILL BEST STAND THE CORROSIVE EFFECTS. RESULTS SHOW THAT TYPE 316 STAINLESS STEEL, AND VITRIFIED CLAY TILE ARE THE LEADING CONTENDERS. STAINLESS STEEL OFFERS SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES BECAUSE OF ITS STRENGTH. AFTER A TWELVE MONTH IN-USE STUDY, THE CULVERT SECTIONS FABRICATED WITH TYPE 316 STAINLESS STEEL ARE PERFORMING SUCCESSFULLY.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 6, No 2, P 38, 2 PHOT
• Publication Date: 1968-2

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Rural and Urban Roads

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay; Corrosion; Corrosion resistance; Culverts; Highway maintenance; Runoff; Stainless steel; Structural materials; Surface drainage; Thermal stresses; Tile
• Uncontrolled Terms: Springs (Water)
• Old TRIS Terms: Culvert materials; Highway drainage; Tile /material/
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00216372
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 3 1994 12:00AM