CORROSION OF STEEL IN CONCRETE

This report summarizes the findings presented in twelve individual interim reports. Of the twelve, four are concerned with field investigations of corrosion-damaged bridges, two with the evaluation of bridge deck membranes, and six with the general subject of laboratory corrosion testing. For continuously salt water submerged reinforced concrete, the chloride ion contents varied from 13 to 34 pounds per cubic yard, with an average of 25 pounds per cubic yard. Calculations based on absorption determinations indicated that the concrete could have contained a 10% chloride solution while the bay water contained 1.7% chloride. Heavy corrosion of the reinforcing steel was observed in 47% of those piles inspected, with maximum pit depth ranging from 0.017 inch to 0.260 inch. The average maximum pit depth was 0.114 inch for pit lengths up to 6 inches. The evaluation and study of corrosion-damaged bridges utilized chloride analysis of concrete samples, determination of metal loss of reinforcing steel samples, measurement of electrical potentials, the preparation of equipotential contour maps, and the determination of concrete delamination areas by sounding with chains. /FHWA/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conducted in cooperation with DOT, Federal Highway Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  California Department of Transportation

  Transportation Laboratory
  5900 Folsom Boulevard
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95819
• Authors:
  • Spellman, D L
  • Stratfull, R F
• Publication Date: 1976-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 44 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Chloride content; Concrete; Corrosion; Delamination; Field studies; Laboratory tests; Pits; Reinforced concrete; Reinforcing steel; Support piles
• Old TRIS Terms: Concrete piles; Field investigations
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165742
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-CA-77-D-3-11 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: D-3-11
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 7 1978 12:00AM