ALUMINUM CULVERT CORROSION

A study of 43 aluminum culverts and 2 aluminum structural plate culverts (none of which were bitumen coated) in service for 5 to 13 years indicates that such culverts possess good resistance to corrosion. The pH of the tidal water which had flowage ranged from 5.8 to 7.1. The pH of the tidal water which flowed through the structural plate culverts ranged from 7.7 to 7.9. The minimum soil resistivity was 8250 ohm cm. Details are given of the methodology and data analysis. Study data indicates that the aluminum culverts and plate culverts were resisting corrosion better than the zinc coated steel culverts and bitumen coated culverts. In environment similar to that of the study, a 16 gage aluminum culvert should provide over 50 years of corrosion free service life.

• Corporate Authors:

  Maine Department of Transportation

  Materials and Research Division, Box 1208, Hogan Road
  Bangor, ME  United States  04402
• Authors:
  • Jacobs, JHG
• Publication Date: 1976-10

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 5 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum; Corrosion resistance; Culverts; pH value; Plates (Engineering); Service life
• Uncontrolled Terms: Plates; Soil resistivity
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00147724
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 76-5
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 16 1977 12:00AM