An initial contract for NCHRP Project 10-37, Performance of Epoxy-Coated Reinforcing Steel in Highway Bridges, is completed. As part of the initial contract, laboratory studies were conducted that included various proposed tests for evaluating epoxy-coated reinforcing steel prior to placement in concrete. Specimens were subjected to various environments conducive to corrosion and monitored. For a final analysis, the specimens were to be destructively tested to determine the actual condition of the coated reinforcing steel and to correlate this condition to previous test results. However, prior to destructively testing the specimens, the contractor suggested destroying only about 10 percent to complete the initial contract work and monitoring the remaining specimens for another 2 years. The suggestion was approved by the NCHRP. Although the prime contractor for the initial project was Kenneth C. Clear, Inc., Florida Atlantic University was the subcontractor doing the laboratory portion of the work that would be extended. All parties agreed that a direct contractual arrangement between the NCHRP and FAU would be more efficient and cost-effective.

The objective of this research was to extend the testing of epoxy-coated reinforced concrete slabs that were originally fabricated and exposed as part of NCHRP Project 10-37. The primary goal of the follow-on research was to obtain corrosion data on epoxy-coated reinforcement embedded in concrete for extended times and to determine the correlation between short-term accelerated laboratory testing and long-term exposure of epoxy-coated reinforcement to salt contaminated concrete.

Status: The project is complete.

Product Availability: The agency's final report has been published as NCHRP Web Document 36, Extended Exposure and Monitoring of Epoxy-Coated Reinforcement Concrete Test Specimens.