PMSS Project Details

Project ID:	FHWA-PROJ-11-0046
Project Name:	Better Understanding of Weathering Steel Performance
Status:	Active
Contact:	Last Name: Ocel First Name: Justin Telephone: 202-493-3080 E-mail: justin.ocel@dot.gov
Organization:	Federal Highway Administration - Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
Office:	Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
Team:	Bridge and Foundation Engineering Team
Roadmap/Focus area(s):	Infrastructure Research and Technology Strategic Plan and Roadmap
Project Description:	The contractor will evaluate (but is not limited to) the following: chloride concentration; humidity; industrial pollutant levels; temperature; time of wetness; and geometric factors, such as horizontal and vertical clearance, that may cause poor weathering steel performance. It is envisioned that project success will rely heavily on field performance evaluation of a sample of weathering steel bridges from across the entire United States. The contractor is expected to apply simple and meaningful test protocols, which can be used to define the macroenvironments and microenvironments, that influence weathering steel performance. In addition, the contractor shall document the relevant bridge geometric factors.
Laboratories:	Not Applicable
Start Date:	June 1, 2011
End Date:	June 1, 2013
Funding Amount:	$575,000.00
FHWA Program Name:	High-Performing Steel Bridge
Goals:	To better understand the macroenvironments or microenvironments and the geometric design variables that influence the corrosion performance of weathering steel.
Project Type:	Offsite
Background Information:	In the 1980s, some States began to experience less than desirable performance of their weathering steel bridges, because the bridges were corroding much faster than anticipated. This prompted the Federal Highway Administration to issue Technical Advisory 5140.22 on October 3,1989. This advisory gave broad and detailed guidance to bridge owners about locations where weathering steel should not be used, such as coastal, high humidity, or industrial environments; and grade separations or low level water crossings. As stated in the 1989 advisory, “Further work is needed to quantify and understand the performance of uncoated weathering steel in a variety of circumstances and conditions.” The Federal Highway Administration is embarking on a research program aimed at addressing this comment and revising the 1989 technical advisory.
Test Methodology:	Field evaluations.
Other Information:	Data not yet available
Partners:	Federal Highway Administration: Office of Research, Development, and Technology - Office of Infrastructure Research and Development; Role(s): Technical
More Information URL(s):
Fieldtest:	Data not yet available
Expected Benefits:	Reduced first costs, provided weathering steel can be specified, and reduced maintenance costs in situations where weathering steel is performing poorly.
Deliverables:	Name: Final report. Product Type(s): Techbrief, Draft standard, specifications, or guidelines Description: The contractor will draft a final report outlining the selection of bridges in the United States for evaluation, the data collected from each bridge, and analysis of that data. The contractor should also recommend changes to the Federal Highway Administration's Technical Advisory 5140.22 based on the results of the field studies. Audiences: Bridge design professionals, State highway agencies Secondary Audiences:
Related URL(s):
Project Findings:	Data not yet available
FHWA Topics:	Roads and Bridges--Asset Management Roads and Bridges--Design Roads and Bridges--Structures Research/Technologies--Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
TRT Terms:	Weathering Steel Corrosion Infrastructure Bridges Research Preservation
FHWA Disciplines:	Structures
Subject Areas:	Bridges and other structures Maintenance and Preservation Research