PREVENTION OF BRIDGE DECK DETERIORATION

THIS IN-DEPTH STUDY SURVEYS RESEARCH EFFORTS, AND REVIEWS CURRENT PRACTICES RELATING TO DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND SPECIFICATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE (ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND AND SWEDEN). U.S. EXPERIENCE HAS DEMONSTRATED THE DIFFICULTIES THAT RESULT WHEN THE STRUCTURAL CONCRETE DECKS OF BRIDGES LOCATED IN AREAS WHERE DEICING SALTS ARE USED ARE EXPOSED AS RIDING SURFACES. IF THE EFFORT NOW BEING MADE IN THE U.S. TO DEVELOP TECHNIQUES FOR PROTECTING REINFORCING STEEL FROM CORROSION, IS SUCCESSFUL, THE CONTINUED USE OF EXPOSED STRUCTURAL CONCRETE DECKS MAY BE JUSTIFIED. CONCRETE ALONE MAY BE USED TO GIVE PROTECTION TO THE REINFORCING STEEL BY THE SWISS TECHNIQUE OF BONDING A CONCRETE OVERLAY TO THE STRUCTURAL DECK. THE TECHNIQUE PROVIDES 4.5 TO 5 IN. OF CRACK FREE CONCRETE OVER THE STEEL IN THE STRUCTURAL DECK, AND REQUIRES THAT THE BRIDGE SUPERSTRUCTURE BE DESIGNED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ADDITIONAL DEAD LOAD. THE PRINCIPLE PROBLEM WITH THIS APPROACH IS THAT OF CONTROLLING THE QUALITY OF CONCRETE UNDER JOB CONDITIONS. THE EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE WITH WATERPROOF MEMBRANES HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A VALID APPROACH TO PREVENTING MAJOR DETERIORATION OF BRIDGE DECKS. HOWEVER, NO OVERLAY SYSTEM IS YET DEVELOPED THAT COULD ALWAYS BE INSTALLED WITH ASSURANCE THAT AN OCCASIONAL FAILURE WOULD NOT OCCUR. THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF WATERPROOFING SYSTEM FAILURE WERE INDICATED TO BE BLOWHOLE AND BLISTER FORMATION, INADEQUATE SEALING AT JOINTS, EDGES AND CURBS, AND PERFORATION OF THE MEMBRANE BY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY. ALTHOUGH THE REMEDIES FOR THESE DIFFICULTIES ARE KNOWN, THE STANDARD OF WORKMANSHIP NEEDED TO OVERCOME THEM IS NOT ALWAYS REALIZED ON THE JOB. BITUMINOUS, PREFABRICATION, AND THIN ADHESIVE MEMBRANES ARE ALL ALIKE, AND THE LONGEST RECORD OF EXPERIENCE IS WITH BITUMINOUS MEMBRANES. THE OBSERVATION IS MADE THAT PREFABRICATION OF MEMBRANE OFFERS THE MOST PROMISING APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SYSTEM WITH SUFFICIENT TOLERANCE FOR JOB CONDITIONS AND WORKMANSHIP THAT IT CAN BE INSTALLED WITH A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF COMPLETE WATERTIGHTNESS.

• Corporate Authors:

  Irf Research & Development

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Brink, R H
• Publication Date: 1973

Media Info

• Features: Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 490-508

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adhesives; Bituminous overlays; Bridge decks; Case studies; Concrete; Corrosion; Creep; Deicing; Design; Deterioration; Foreign; Overlays (Pavements); Prefabricated structures; Prevention; Reinforcing steel; Research; Surveys
• Old TRIS Terms: Concrete creep; Foreign design practices; Water entry
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Research; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00219177
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 23 1974 12:00AM