Stainless Steel Clad Rebar in Bridge Decks

The corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and cladding size and shape of a stainless steel clad (SSC) reinforcing bar (rebar) were investigated. For the mechanical property testing, the black steel core failed prior to the cladding. The mechanical properties examined were elongation, tensile strength and yield strength. The SSC rebar had greater elongation and tensile strength than the specifications, but the yield strength had a 33% probability of being less than the specification if the actual bar diameter of 0.76” was used. The SSC rebar with end coating is estimated to give 50-60 years of life before damaging the concrete. Abrading the cladding reduced the life estimate by a few years, usually 1-5 years. Drilling a hole in the cladding, to simulate a break, significantly reduced the estimated life of the end coated SSC rebar by 15-40 years. All samples exceeded the nominal bar size. The cladding was generally within specification, except for one failing measurement out of approximately 50 measurements. All examined samples exhibited a gap between the core and cladding. Cracking of the cladding would be similar to the corrosion test in which a hole was drilled in the cladding and would lead to a serious decrease in the life expectancy of the bridge deck compared to non-cracked clad SSC rebar. At the current time, the SSC rebar material is not recommended for use due to questions about its long-term mechanical durability.

• Record URL:
  http://www.sddot.com/business/research/projects/docs/SD2000_04.Final_Report.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • An executive summary is published separately as SD2000-04-X.
• Corporate Authors:

  South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

  Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
  Rapid City, SD  United States  57701

  South Dakota Department of Transportation

  Office of Research
  700 East Broadway Avenue
  Pierre, SD  United States  57501-2586

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Cross, William M
  • Duke, Ed F
  • Kellar, Jon J
  • Han, Ken N
  • Johnston, Dan
• Publication Date: 2001-11-15

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 55p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Cladding; Corrosion resistance; Mechanical properties; Reinforcing bars; Stainless steel
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I34: Steels and Metals;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01457327
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SD2000-04-F
• Contract Numbers: 310704
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 17 2012 9:26AM