CONCRETE BRIDGE DECKS WITH A THREE-INCH COVER DEPTH: A TEN-YEAR PERFORMANCE REPORT. FINAL REPORT

The condition of 15 normal-density-concrete bridge decks built in 1975-76 under a requirement for 3 in. of cover over otherwise unprotected top-mat steel reinforcement was examined after 9 to 10 years of service. Even though corrosion-threshold quantities of chloride were estimated to have accumulated at the level of 39 percent of all top mat steel, and half-cell potentials more negative than -0.35 v were measured on seven of the study spans, no delaminations or spalls were detected. These data are consistent with the prediction, based on other studies, that otherwise unprotected decks with at least 2.2 in. of cover (as these decks have) should experience a damage-free life of at least 16 years and a mean service life of at least 37 years in New York State environments.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Study title: Extended Bridge Deck Evaluation.
• Corporate Authors:

  New York State Department of Transportation

  Engineering Research and Development Bureau, 1220 Washington Avenue
  Albany, NY  United States  12232

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Chamberlin, W P
• Publication Date: 1989-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 27 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Concrete; Condition surveys; Corrosion; Delamination; Performance evaluations; Reinforced concrete bridges; Service life; Sodium chloride; Spalling
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cover depth
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00485327
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/NY/SR-89/92, Special Report 92
• Contract Numbers: NCP 4DCO332
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 1989 12:00AM