- Author
- Mathey, R. G. | Clifton, J. R.
- Title
- Corrosion Resistant Epoxy-Coated Reinforcing Steel.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Book or Conf
- Structures Congress '94. Structures Congress XII. Volume 1. April 24-28, 1994, American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY, Atlanta, GA, Baker, N. C.; Goodno, B. J., Editors, 109-115 p., 1994
- Keywords
- steels | corrosion
- Abstract
- Research conducted in the 1970s to evaluate and develop criteria for nonmetallic coatings to protect steel reinforcing bars embedded in concrete bridge decks from the corrosive action of chlorides is reviewed to provide a case study for successes and disappointments in structural research. The objectives of the research, the technical challenges faced, the.conduct of the research, and how the results were implemented for improvement of structural engineering practice are discussed. Also, reasons for the successful transition from research to field application are explored. The early deterioration of the concrete of bridge decks had become a significant problem during the 1960s and early 1970s. The annual cost of repairing bridge decks was estimated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 1970 to be about 70 million dollars. Up until the mid 197Os, the life of bridge decks was 5-10 years in northern states where deicing salts were used. Premature bridge deck deterioration was often caused by corroding steel reinforcing bars which resulted in cracking, delamination, and subsequent spalling of the concrete. Rebar corrosion is accelerated by the aggressive effects of chloride ions from salts used to melt ice and snow. During the 1960s and early 197Os, the amounts of deicing salts used for this purpose had greatly increased.