Evaluation of Corrosion Prevention and Mitigation Approaches Used on Texas Bridges—Volume 1: Steel Girder Bridges

Corroded steel members cause significant risk to the durability of steel bridges, leading to costly failures and endangering public safety. Thus, it is essential to implement effective corrosion prevention and mitigation strategies to ensure the long-term durability of steel girders and reduce risks associated with corrosion activities. The Texas Department of Transportation uses corrosion-resistant materials and paints steel elements to mitigate corrosion on steel girder bridges. Weathering steel provides excellent corrosion resistance and forms an adhesive oxide layer over time, known as a patina layer, that enhances its resistance to atmospheric corrosion and ultimately results in longer service life. Findings from this study showed weathering steel girders exhibited long-term durability in low to medium corrosive environments. However, an increased volume of akaganeite and splines within the patina decreases the functionality of the rust layer as the corrosivity rises. In such environments, an alternative protection system for steel structures is a zinc-based paint system, known as Paint System III, consisting of three layers of zinc and epoxy coats. The researchers concluded that Paint System III is a durable corrosion prevention and mitigation method for protecting steel structures in high corrosive regions. To identify geographic areas with a higher risk of corrosivity, a corrosion risk assessment map was developed based on factors influencing atmospheric corrosion and was also validated by field inspection results and laboratory examinations. In addition, theoretical modeling based on corrosion fatigue strain-life models was performed to estimate the average service life of weathering steel structures. The researchers concluded that if the corrosion rate of the steel component exceeds 1.5 mils per year, the service life of weathered steel significantly decreases, and a reduction of cyclic loading and fatigue stress on the corroded members is required.

• Record URL:
  • https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-7040-R1-Vol1.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  • https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-7040-PSR.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76745
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75703
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office
  125 E 11th Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78701-2483

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hurlebaus, Stefan
  • Birely, Anna
  • Yarnold, Matthew
  • Noshadravan, Arash
  • Rockey, Arash
  • Shivechchhu, Pushkar
  • Yoon, Seung Hyun
  • Zhang, Zhen
• Publication Date: 2024-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 1402p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrosion protection; Corrosion resistant materials; Girder bridges; Paint; Risk assessment; Service life; Steel bridges; Weathering steel
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01926538
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-24/0-7040-R1-Vol1, 0-7040-R1-Vol1
• Contract Numbers: 0-7040
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 6 2024 10:35AM