Maintenance Practices for Chloride-Induced Corrosion in Reinforced-Concrete Bridge-Pier Columns

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

4-2-2018

Publication Title

Construction Research Congress 2018

First page number:

10

Abstract

Corrosion of reinforcement due to chloride-ion contamination in reinforced concrete (RC) bridge structures is one of the major deterioration distresses in highway bridges of the United States. The deterioration process starts with minor cracks and spalls, causing loss of concrete cover. The process continues to cause damage to large surface areas along with significant loss in reinforcement, causing structural distresses. To preserve and correct RC bridge structures constructed in a chloride-laden environment, a series of maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation (MR&R) works could be performed. This study investigated chloride-induced corrosion damage as well as the maintenance practices regarding the reinforced-concrete bridge-pier columns. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 50 state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to collect 1) preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance practices and 2) information related to the durability and effectiveness of the repairs. Additionally, the study investigated the effectiveness of using externally bonded fiber-reinforced-polymer (FRP) composites in corrosion repair of bridge-pier columns, an approach widely practiced among the Department of Transportations. This paper presents the profile to obtain a corrosion-damage using repair criteria for pier columns exposed to various environmental conditions. This profile could be useful for life-cycle cost analysis of maintenance and repair activities.

Keywords

Fiber-reinforced polymers, chloride-induced corrosion, bridge-pier columns

Language

eng

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