PROTECTION FOR CONCRETE BRIDGE DECKS BY MEMBRANE WATERPROOFING

STANDARD PRACTICE IN MASSACHUSETTS IS TO USE A MEMBRANE WATERPROOFING ON ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE BRIDGE DECKS THAT ARE TO BE COVERED BY BITUMINOUS CONCRETE. RESTORATION OF CONCRETE BRIDGE DECKS THAT HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF REQUIRING REPAIRS, INCLUDE MEMBRANE WATERPROOFING AS A PART OF THE RESTORATION PROJECT. BRIDGES BUILT PRIOR TO 1940 WITHOUT ADEQUATE DECK WATERPROOFING THAT HAVE A BITUMINOUS CONCRETE RIDING SURFACE OF VARIOUS THICKNESSES ARE PRESENTLY BEING RESTORED. THE 1958 DEPARTMENT SPECIFICATIONS CALL FOR MEMBRANE WATERPROOFING AND FOR 2-PLY COATED WOVEN-GLASS FABRIC PLACED BETWEEN 5 MOPPINGS OF A COAL TAR PITCH EMULSION. PROCEDURES AND COSTS ARE REVIEWED. THE EMULSION IS THOROUGHLY AGITATED IN ITS CONTAINER AND NO ADULTERANTS OF ANY NATURE WERE ADDED. WHERE MEMBRANE WATERPROOFING IS PLACED AT STEEL EXPANSION JOINTS, SCUPPERS, MANHOLES OR OTHER METAL PROJECTING THROUGH THE CONCRETE, THE MEMBRANE IS TURNED UP ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES AND SEALED TO THE METAL. BLEEDERS, 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER, ARE INSTALLED AT THE CURB LINES, PRIOR TO THE PLACING OF THE MEMBRANE WATERPROOFING. THE WATERPROOFING IS PROTECTED THROUGHOUT ALL OPERATIONS OF PLACING THE BITUMINOUS-CONCRETE BASE COURSE. NO VEHICLES ARE PERMITTED ON THE BARE WATERPROOFING. THE FIRST COURSE OF BITUMINOUS CONCRETE MUST BE SPREAD BY HAND. PERFORMANCE OBSERVATIONS SHOW SATISFACTORY RESULTS FROM THIS METHOD OF WATERPROOFING. NO OTHER METHOD OR MATERIALS HAVE BEEN FOUND THAT WILL PRODUCE COMPARABLE RESULTS AT SUCH A REASONABLE COST.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1968/254/254-004.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Paper sponsored by Committee on Maintenance of Structures. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Hagenbuch, John J
• Publication Date: 1968

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: pp 58-60
• Monograph Title: Maintenance practices 1967
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 254
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt concrete; Base course (Pavements); Bridge decks; Coal tars; Concrete; Emulsions; Expansion joints; Glass fibers; Pitch (Materials); Protection; Rehabilitation; Surface course (Pavements); Thickness; Waterproofing materials
• Uncontrolled Terms: Membranes
• Old TRIS Terms: Membranes (Biology); Renovating; Thickness design
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218438
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 23 1994 12:00AM