INSPECTION OF THE SUBSTRUCTURE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE-TUNNEL ABOVE AND BELOW THE WATERLINE

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, completed in 1964, was 24 years old when Wilbur Smith Associates, BTML Division, supplied engineering services as part of an in-depth, above-and-below water inspection of the substructure for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel District. As part of this inspection, a visual inspection of all substructure elements was conducted. A total of 60 bents were selected for a hands-on inspection. From these bents, 10 piles were selected for an in-depth evaluation. The 24-year-old substructure of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel was in fair condition. The splash zone and below-water portions of the piles were in good condition because of the protection provided by excessive marine growth. The above-water portions of the piles were found to be in generally fair condition. Almost all piles had hairline cracks; some piles had open cracks that allowed the ingress of corrosive agents. The prestressing strands were in good condition with no section loss. Corrosion generally began as the surface of the pile crack increased beyond 1/4 in. Chloride ion presence in the concrete at the level of prestressing strand was almost negligible. The corrosion potential readings correlated with the rating of the crack tested. Caps were found to be in good condition with only isolated signs of deterioration. The report to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel District made the following recommendations: cracks open less than 1/16 in. need only be monitored; cracks open 1/16 to 1/4 in. should be sealed by epoxy injection to prevent corrosion initiation; and piles with cracks open more than 1/4 in. should be rehabilitated using a structural jacket or replaced.

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  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1990/1268/1268-015.pdf
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1268, Highway Maintenance Operations and Research 1990. 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:
  • Graber, Donald R
• Publication Date: 1990

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 130-137
• Monograph Title: Highway maintenance operations and research 1990
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1268
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bents; Bridge substructures; Bridges; Corrosion; Cracking; Inspection; Vision
• Identifier Terms: Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (Virginia)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge inspection; Underwater inspection
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00602666
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309050235
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 31 1990 12:00AM