Service Life Performance of Preventive and Rehabilitative Overlays on Virginia Bridge Decks: An Observational Study
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 34, Issue 5
Abstract
The overlaying of bridge decks has remained one of the most used rehabilitation methods to extend their service life. However, the long-term performance of overlays has not been entirely understood, and the significant challenge in studying the performance of overlays is the reason only minimal information exists and thus limits any scientific assessment of the system. This study aims to provide a strong framework and methodology for the understanding of the long-term performance of overlays and the factors affecting them. The paper discusses an extensive data collection process that lead to the development of a robust database of 133 overlaid bridge decks. The database was used in the development of a multiple regression model that provides a better understanding of the influence of the factors that affected the performance of overlays. In addition, survival fitting was conducted to estimate the service life of overlays. Preventive thin epoxy overlays were predicted to serve 18–22 years. Whereas, rehabilitative overlays, specifically latex-modified concrete, silica-fume, and very-early strength latex-modified concrete overlays, were predicted to serve 21–32 years. These results are in general agreement with earlier nationwide studies of epoxy and latex modified concrete overlays on bridge decks.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The researchers are grateful to Gary Lester, Jeffery Powell, Lance Click, and Aleia Warren of the Bristol District; Dean Martin of the Salem District; Pettis Bond and Jeff Milton of the Lynchburg District; Gary Martin, Robert Dunn, and Jeff Hill of the Richmond District; Glen McAninch, Brent Sprinkel, Travis Estes, and Mark Tomblin of the Culpeper District; Rex Pearce, Mike Mitchell, and Stacy Sager of the Staunton District for their tremendous help and expertise in the field of Bridge Engineering.
References
Alger, R., S. Gruenberg, and J. Wegleitner. 2003. Field performance of polymer bridge deck overlays in Michigan, 43. Houghton, MI: Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton and Michigan Dept. of Transportation.
ASCE. 2017. “Infrastructure report card: A comprehensive assessment of America’s infrastructure.” Accessed January 10, 2020. https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/.
Balakumaran, S., R. E. Weyers, and M. C. Brown. 2013. “Modeling corrosion effects: An examination of chloride-induced deterioration of a bridge deck with epoxy-coated reinforcement.” Concr. Int. 35 (2): 47–53.
Balakumaran, S. S. G., and R. E. Weyers. 2019. Performance of bridge deck overlays in Virginia. Phase II: Service life performance. VTRC Rep. No. 20-R6. Charlottesville, VA: Virginia Transportation Research Council.
Balakumaran, S. S. G., R. E. Weyers, and M. C. Brown. 2017. Performance of bridge deck overlays in Virginia. Phase I: State of overlays. VTRC Rep. No. 17-R17. Charlottesville, VA: Virginia Transportation Research Council.
Broomfield, J. P. 2007. Corrosion of steel in concrete: Understanding, investigation and repair. London: Taylor & Francis.
Distlehorst, J. 2009. Twenty-five year performance history of latex-modified concrete overlays on New Bridge Decks in Wichita, Kansa, 24. Topeka, KS: Kansas Dept. of Transportation.
El Batanouny, M. K., E. I. Nadelman, J. C. Kurth, and P. D. Krauss. 2017. Use of polymer overlays or sealers on New Bridges, 94. Ames IA: Iowa Dept. of Transportation, Iowa Highway Research Board.
Harper, L. 2007. Investigation of failures of epoxy polymer overlays in Missouri, 20. Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Dept. of Transportation.
Hatami, A., and G. Morcous. 2016. “Deterministic and probabilistic lifecycle cost assessment: Application to Nebraska Bridges.” J. Perform. Constr. Facil. 30 (2): 04015025. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000772.
Hunsucker, D. Q., K. H. Ashurst, Jr., B. W. Rister, D. L. Allen, and E. Grady. 2018. Longer lasting bridge deck overlays, 1591. Lexington, KY: Kentucky Transportation Center.
Knight, M. L., G. S. Wilson, W. J. Seger, and S. Mahadevan. 2004. “Overlay types used an preventive maintenance on Tennessee bridge decks.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1866 (1): 79–84. https://doi.org/10.3141/1866-10.
Krauss, P. D., J. S. Lawler, and K. A. Steiner. 2008. Guidelines for selection of bridge deck overlays, sealers, and treatments: NCHRP 20-07/Task 234. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
Krauss, P. D., and E. A. Rogalla. 1996. Transverse cracking in newly constructed bridge decks.. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 1991. Highway deicing: Comparing salt and calcium magnesium acetate. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2012. Long-term performance of polymer concrete for bridge decks. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/14623.
Sprinkel, M. M. 1998. Very-early-strength latex-modified concrete overlay. VTRC Rep. No. 99-TAR3. Charlottesville, VA: Virginia Transportation Research Council.
Sprinkel, M. M. 2004. Performance specification for high performance concrete overlays on bridges. VTRC Rep. No. 05-R2. Charlottesville, VA: Virginia Transportation Research Council.
Sprinkel, M. M., A. Sellars, and R. Weyers. 1993. “Concrete bridge protection and rehabilitation: Chemical and physical techniques.” In Rapid concrete bridge deck protection, repair and rehabilitation, 110. Washington, DC: SHRP, National Research Council.
Weyers, R. E., B. D. Prowell, M. M. Sprinkel, and M. Vorster. 1993. Concrete bridge protection, repair, and rehabilitation relative to reinforcement corrosion: A methods application manual, 268. Washington, DC: Strategic Highway Research Program, National Research Council.
Wilson, D. L., and E. H. Henley. 1995. Thin polymer bridge deck overlays: WSDOT’s ten year evaluation. Tumwater, WA: Bridge and Structures Office.
Wipf, T. J., D. L. Erickson, and F. W. Klaiber. 1987. “Cost-effectiveness analysis for strengthening existing bridges.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1113: 9–17.
Zimmerman, J. M., S. Olson, and A. Schultz. 2007. “Determining economic strategies for repair and replacement of low slump overlays of Bridge Decks, 209. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Dept. of Transportation.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 34 • Issue 5 • October 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 24, 2019
Accepted: Feb 12, 2020
Published online: Jun 17, 2020
Published in print: Oct 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 17, 2020
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.