This report deals with the performance, design, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of weathering steel in bridges. The performance section of the report describes the application of weathering steel in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It also presents many case studies of unsatisfactory performance so that engineers can avoid past problems in the design of new bridges. The design section provides guidelines on site selection, economic analysis of the benefits of choosing weathering steel versus painted steel, good detailing for improved corrosion resistance, recommendations for the use of welds and bolts in connections, and criteria for fatigue design. The construction section of the report addresses the proper handling and storage of weathering steel members prior to erection, the final cleaning of the steel after erection, and the protection of the concrete substructure against rust staining. The inspection section presents guidelines for evaluating the condition of the oxide coating, the underlying steel base, and the structure as a whole. It also gives examples of the periodic maintenance needed to ensure satisfactory performance of the weathering steel. Finally, the last section of the report recommends a method of remedially painting weathering steel bridges that have not performed satisfactorily.
Samenvatting