BACKGROUND
Prestressed concrete elements such as beams, girders, piles, and decks are an essential part of the vast majority of bridges built in the United States. Concrete bridge elements that are built with prestressed 7-wire uncoated steel strands are susceptible to corrosion leading to structure deterioration. Delaying strand corrosion will reduce maintenance needs, extend the bridge service life, and enhance the overall safety. Therefore, state departments of transportation (DOTs) have been investigating alternative strand materials such as stainless steel to address steel strand corrosions. However, there is no national standards or specifications to support bridge owners in using stainless steel strands. Bridge owners, fabricators, and contractors need specifications and guidelines for the applications of stainless steel strands for prestressed concrete bridge elements.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this research were to (1) propose modification to the AASHTO LRFD bridge design and construction specifications and (2) develop guidelines for the applications of stainless steel strands for prestressed concrete bridge elements including design examples to demonstrate the application of the proposed modifications.
The research included pre-tensioning and post-tensioning of concrete bridge elements.
STATUS: The final deliverables have been received. A publiction decision is pending.
