NONSKID DECK
A ROUGHING-UP JOB WAS DONE ON THE OPEN STEEL GRID DECK OF THE MAXWELL BRIDGE OVER THE NAPA RIVER. THIS 132-FT, TWO- LANE LIFT SPAN PRESENTED A SKID PROBLEM IN DAMP WEATHER. OVER 18,000 STUDS WERE WELDED TO THE DECK, LEAVING A HOBNAIL EFFECT. THE DECK CONSISTS OF LONGITUDINAL BARS ON EDGE 2-1/2 IN. APART WITH ZIGZAG BARS FOR SPACERS. AFTER TRAFFIC VOLUME INCREASED AND SKIDDING ACCIDENTS OCCURRED, THE DECK WAS TREATED WITH AN EPOXY ADHESIVE COVERED WITH ALUMINUM OXIDE GRITS. THIS $2500 PROCESS WAS REPEATED 18 MONTHS LATER AT A COST OF $2000. CONTINUED INCREASE IN TRAFFIC WOULD NECESSITATE YEARLY TREATMENT. STUDS WERE WELDED AT THE BAR INTERSECTIONS OF THE GRID DECK RESULTING IN A LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE PATTERN 5 IN. APART. INTERMEDIATE LONGITUDINAL BARS WERE SPOTTED WITH STUDS AT 15-IN. CENTERS TO BREAK UP ANY SWAY PATTERN. ALTHOUGH STATE MAINTENANCE CREWS WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH STUD GUN OPERATION, THEY WERE SOON PLACING STUDS AT THE RATE OF 4 TO 6 PER MINUTE PER MAN. THE JOB WAS COMPLETED IN 3-1/2 DAYS INSTEAD OF THE ESTIMATED 6 DAYS. THE PREVIOUS TREATMENTS OF EPOXY AND ABRASIVES HAD TAKEN OVER A WEEK EACH TIME. SINCE A NUMBER OF STATE BRIDGES HAVE OPEN GRID DECKS, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS TREATMENT MAY PROMPT ITS USE AT OTHER LOCATIONS.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 44, No 5/6, PP 48-49
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Authors:
- Carter, C P
- Publication Date: 1965-5
Media Info
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Aluminum oxide; Bridge decks; Costs; Epoxides; Grates; Lift bridges; Maintenance management; Maintenance personnel; Metal bridges; Skid resistance; Steel bridges; Studs; Welding
- Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs; Treatment
- Old TRIS Terms: Epoxy; Gridworks (Structures)
- Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00218150
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Feb 20 1994 12:00AM