BRIDGE PIER STAINING

The Arkansas Highway Department studied bridge pier staining to determine the cause of stains, their effects on structures, and the best methods of preventing and cleaning stains. A letter survey of other states and tests on Arkansas bridges were included in the study. Runoff from the bridge deck is the primary cause of bridge pier stains. Arkansas stains contain the elements normally found in soil, rust, and tires. No significant structural damage was found in Arkansas, but some damage, primarily from salt, was reported in the other states. Methods suggested to prevent runoff water from bridge piers include use of continuous spans, expansion joints placed away from piers, preformed seals, and abutment drain. Three-fourths of all bridge stains can be removed by washing. Rust stains and graffiti, however, can be removed only by costly chemical procedures or sandblasting.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1975/547/547-007.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=BRIDGE+PIER+STAINING&author=S.+Thornton&publication_year=1975
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309024548
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Structure Maintenance. 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:
  • Thornton, Sam I
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 66-71
• Monograph Title: Concrete and Steel Bridges
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 547
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Blast cleaning; Bridge piers; Cleaning; Graffiti; Loss and damage; Prevention; Runoff; Rust prevention; Sodium chloride; Sodium chloride; Testing; Washing
• Uncontrolled Terms: Staining
• Old TRIS Terms: Chemical cleaning; Stains
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Maintenance and Preservation; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00128550
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024548
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 14 1976 12:00AM