Pack Rust Identification and Mitigation Strategies for Steel Bridges

Pack rust or crevice corrosion is a type of localized corrosion. When a metal is in contact with a metal, or even non-metal, the metal starts to corrode, and rust starts to pack in between the surfaces. When significant development of pack rust occurs, it can cause overstressing of bolts and rivets causing them to fail, and it can bend connecting plates and member elements thus reducing their buckling capacity. Thus it is important to mitigate the formation and growth of pack rust in bridges. This study was conducted to determine if pack rust occurs frequently and thereby may pose a problem in the state of Indiana. The study is divided into three primary tasks. The first part of the study involves understanding the parameters involved in the initiation process of crevice corrosion and post-initiation crevice corrosion process. The second part of the study involves reviewing existing mitigation strategies and repair procedures used by state departments of transportation (DOTs). The third part of the study involves identifying steel bridges with pack rust in Indiana. Analyses were performed on the data collected from Indiana bridges that have pack rust. This involved finding the components and members of bridges which are most affected by pack rust and finding parameters which influence the formation of pack rust. Pack rust in the steel bridges were identified using the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) inspection reports available through Bridge Inspection Application System (BIAS) system. The study revealed that good maintenance practices helped in reducing pack rust formation. The study identified locations on steel bridges which have a high probability towards pack rust formation. A mitigating strategy possessing qualities which can show promising results is identified.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.5703/1288284316788
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/38689
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9781622605088
• Corporate Authors:

  Purdue University

  Joint Transportation Research Program
  West Lafayette, IN  United States  47907-2051

  Indiana Department of Transportation

  100 N Senate Avenue
  Indianapolis, IN  United States  46204

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Patel, Chintan Hitesh
  • Bowman, Mark D
• Publication Date: 2018-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 43p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrosion; Maintenance practices; Repairing; Rust prevention; Rusting; State departments of transportation; Steel bridges
• Geographic Terms: Indiana
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01696719
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9781622605088
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/IN/JTRP-2018/16
• Contract Numbers: SPR-4121
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 28 2019 4:37PM