Corrosion Performance of Epoxy-Coated Bars in Four Bridge Decks Subjected to Deicing Salts: 30-Year Perspective
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29, Issue 4
Abstract
The corrosion performance of epoxy-coated bars in four bridge decks built in the 1970s is evaluated. The study includes data from two separate investigations conducted 10 years apart; it is based on data obtained from in situ inspections and laboratory tests. The data show that after approximately 30 years of service, the decks were all in good condition. They showed light cracking and few delaminated areas (some of which have already been patched), and only one deck had an open spall. Nonetheless, evidence of corrosion activity was found at various locations in all four decks, especially near or at expansion joints, or where cracks had developed. At these locations, chloride ion concentrations at the bar-level were high [ () or greater], and the severed bars showed minor rust buildup on the surface. Away from joints or cracks, however, epoxy-coated bars typically showed zero or light corrosion with low bar-level chloride ion concentrations in the concrete.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The work presented in this paper was sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Their support is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also extended to the Midwest Regional University Transportation Center who provided additional support to the project. The opinions, conclusion and recommendations are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the sponsors or the individuals mentioned here.
References
AASHTO. (2004). “Standard test method for sampling and testing for total chloride ion in concrete and concrete raw materials.”, Washington, DC.
Ann, K. Y., and Song, H. W. (2007). “Chloride threshold level for corrosion of steel in concrete.” Corros. Sci., 49(11), 4113–4133.
ASTM. (1999). “Standard test method for half-cell potentials of uncoated reinforcing steel in concrete.”, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2012). “Standard specification for epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars.”, West Conshohocken, PA.
Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI). (2013). “Epoxy coating plant certification program.” Certification program administration, Concrete reinforcing steel institute 05/13, 〈www.crsi.org〉 (Dec. 1, 2013).
Kahhaleh, K. Z., Vaca-Cortés, E., Jirsa, J. O., Wheat, H. G., and Carrasquillo, R. L. (1998). “Corrosion performance of epoxy-coated reinforcement-macrocell tests.”, Center for Transportation Research Bureau of Engineering Research, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX, 165.
Krauss, P. D., McDonald, D. B., and Sherman, M. R. (1996). “Corrosion investigation of four bridges built between 1973 and 1978 containing epoxy-coated reinforcing steel.”, Minnesota Dept. of Transportation, St. Paul, MN, 163.
Lau, K., Sagüés, A. A., and Powers, R. G. (2010). “Corrosion of epoxy-coated rebar in marine bridges—Part 2: Corrosion in cracked concrete.” Corrosion, 66(6), 065002-1–065002-16.
Minnesota Dept. of Transportation (MnDOT). (2009). Bridge inspection manual, version 1.8, MnDOT, St. Paul, MN.
National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE). (2002). “Laboratory methods for the evaluation of protective coatings and lining materials on metallic substrates in immersion service.”, NACE International, the Corrosion Society, 〈http://www.nace.org/〉 (Nov. 20, 2013).
National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE). (2006). “Evaluation of internal plastic coating for corrosion control of tubular goods by autoclave testing.”, NACE International, the Corrosion Society, 〈http://www.nace.org/〉 (Nov. 20, 2013).
Pincheira, J. A., Aramayo, A. A., Kim, K. S., and Fratta, D. (2008). “Corrosion protection performance of epoxy-coated reinforcing bars.”, Minnesota Dept. of Transportation, St. Paul, MN, 224.
RILEM. (1994). “CPC 18 measurement of hardened concrete carbonation depth—1988.”, RILEM, E & FN, 56–58.
Sagüés, A. A. (1991). “Mechanism of corrosion of epoxy-coated reinforcing steel in concrete.”, Univ. of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
Sagüés, A. A., et al. (1994). “Corrosion of epoxy coated rebar in Florida bridges.”, Univ. of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
Sagüés, A. A., Lau, K., Powers, R. G., and Kessler, R. J. (2010). “Corrosion of epoxy-coated rebar in marine bridges—Part 1: A 30-year perspective.” Corrosion, 66(6), 065001-1–065001-13.
Tang, F., Chen, G., Brow, R. K., Volz, J. S., and Koenigstein, M. L. (2012). “Corrosion resistance and mechanism of steel rebar coated with three types of enamel.” Corros. Sci., 59, 157–168.
Williamson, G. S., Weyers, R. E., Brown, M. C., Ramniceanu, A., and Sprinkel, M. M. (2008). “Validation of probability-based chloride-induced corrosion service-life model.” ACI Mater. J., 105(4), 375–380.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29 • Issue 4 • August 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 25, 2013
Accepted: Feb 7, 2014
Published online: Feb 10, 2014
Discussion open until: Jan 21, 2015
Published in print: Aug 1, 2015
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.