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Federal Highway Administration
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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| REPORT |
| This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
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| Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-15-078 Date: June 2018 |
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-15-078 Date: June 2018 |
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This final report presents research findings of a comparative laboratory study evaluating the corrosion resistance of 12 alternative metallic reinforcing materials embedded for about 18mo in 8 large-scale concrete slabs that simulated typical reinforced concrete bridge decks. Based on electrochemical test data and autopsy results, the materials were divided into three groups:
four products in the best performance group, six products in the intermediate performance group, and two products in the poorest performance group.
This study was conducted as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s Long-Term Bridge Performance Program. The products from this program will be a collection of data-driven tools, including predictive and forecasting models, that will enhance the abilities of bridge owners to optimize their management of bridges. This report should be of interest to bridge program personnel from Federal, State, and local transportation departments. Also, bridge design engineers, specification writers, manufacturers/suppliers of reinforcing steel, and reinforcing detailers would benefit from reading this report.
Cheryl Allen Richter, P.E., Ph.D.
Director, Office of Infrastructure
Research and Development
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
Quality Assurance Statement
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Technical Report Documentation Page
| 1. Report No.
FHWA-HRT-15-078 |
2. Government Accession No.
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3 Recipient's Catalog No.
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| 4. Title and Subtitle
A Comparative Laboratory Study of Metallic Reinforcing Steels for Corrosion Protection of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Structures
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5. Report Date
June 2018 |
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| 6. Performing Organization Code
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| 7. Author(s)
Seung-Kyoung Lee |
8. Performing Organization Report No.
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| 9. Performing Organization Name and Address
SK Lee & Associates, Inc. Rutgers, The State University |
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
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| 11. Contract or Grant No.
DTFH61-08-C-00005 |
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| 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Office of Infrastructure Research and Development |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Final Report; January 2009–August 2015 |
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| 14. Sponsoring Agency Code
HRDI-10 |
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| 15. Supplementary Notes
The Technical Contact was Donald Becker (HRDI-10), and the Contracting Officer’s Representative was Robert Zobel (HRDI-30). |
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| 16. Abstract
This report presents study findings related to corrosion resistance of 12 types of metallic reinforcing steel bars. The accelerated laboratory corrosion testing was performed using eight large-scale concrete slabs that simulated typical reinforced concrete bridge decks for about 18 mo by an accelerated corrosion testing protocol followed by a detailed autopsy of extracted bar samples and acid-soluble chloride concentrations determined at the bar imprints. The weekly corrosion testing protocol consisted of a 3-d wetting cycle in 15 weight percent chloride solution at 77°F and a 4-d drying cycle at 100°F. The best corrosion performance group of reinforcing bars includes epoxy-coated reinforcing steel, dual-coated reinforcing steel, stainless steel–clad reinforcing steel, and duplex solid stainless reinforcing steel with 23 percent chromium. The intermediate corrosion performance group includes duplex solid stainless reinforcing steel with 21 percent chromium, austenitic solid stainless reinforcing steel, another type of stainless steel–clad reinforcing steel, ferritic solid stainless reinforcing steel with 12 percent chromium, high-strength micro-composite reinforcing steel, and hot-dip galvanized reinforcing steel. The poorest corrosion performance group includes black steel and lean duplex solid stainless reinforcing steel with 12 percent chromium. |
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| 17. Key Words
Corrosion, Corrosion-resistant reinforcing steel, Chloride threshold, Corrosion initiation, Corrosion propagation, Autopsy, Accelerated corrosion testing |
18. Distribution Statement
No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161. |
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| 19. Security Classification (of this report) Unclassified |
20. Security Classification (of this page) Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages
170 |
22. Price
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| Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) | Reproduction of completed page authorized |
