Abstract
The safety and durability of bridges designed from weathering steels are conditioned by the development of a sufficiently protective layer of corrosion products. Air pollution, microclimate around the bridge, time of wetness, structural solution of the bridge, and the position and orientation of the surface within the bridge structure all influence the development of protective layers on the surface of the weathering steel. In this article, attention is focused mainly on the microclimatic effects resulting from the road traffic under the bridge. The influence of chloride deposition on the development of corrosion products is evaluated using experimental in situ testing. Two neighboring bridges made of weathering steel and crossing different types of obstacles were selected for this experiment. Relations and dependences between the measured parameters (deposition rate of chlorides, corrosion rates, thickness of corrosion products and the amount of chlorides in corrosion products) are evaluated and discussed.
Highlights
During the construction of the highway network of the Czech Republic between 2000 and 2010, a number of bridges with a weathering steel supporting structure were built
The course of corrosion processes on bridges constructed with weathering steel is significantly influenced by the chosen structural solution of the bridge and the specifics of local microclimatic conditions
The results of the measurements performed show that the general classification of a locality according to the category of corrosion aggressiveness is not sufficiently indicative for the prediction of corrosion processes if the geometric parameters of the construction design and possible microclimatic influences are not taken into consideration
Summary
During the construction of the highway network of the Czech Republic between 2000 and 2010, a number of bridges with a weathering steel supporting structure were built. During extensive inspection of the bridges after 10–15 years of operation, it has been found that a sufficient protective layer of corrosion products were developed on most bridge surfaces [7]. For some some bridge bridge constructions, constructions, inspections inspections have have identified identified surfaces are not not exposed exposed to to direct direct leakage, yet they do not develop a sufficiently protective layer of corrosion products [10]. The development of no protective corrosion products on the bottom flanges is mainly caused caused by the increased chlorides that toand dust particles and aerosols. Thisarticle article pays thethe development of corrosion products on the on steel structure structure of theprotected bridge protected by the upper concrete deck, areby affected by the increased of the bridge by the upper concrete deck, which arewhich affected the increased deposition deposition of chlorides.
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