Abstract
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) uses different types of metal culverts and cross-drains. Service lives of these culverts are largely influenced by the corrosion of the metals used in these culverts. Corrosion of metallic parts in any soil-water environment is governed by geochemical and electrochemical properties of the soils and waters. Many transportation agencies including ARDOT primarily focus on investigating the physical and mechanical properties of soils rather than their chemical aspects. The main objective of this study is to analyze the geotechnical and geochemical properties of soils in Arkansas to estimate the service lives of different metal pipes in different conditions. Soil resistivity values were predicted after analyzing the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) soil survey data using neural network (NN) models. The developed NN models were trained and verified by using laboratory test results of soil samples collected from ARDOT, and survey data were obtained from the USDA. The service lives of metal culverts were then estimated based on the predicted soil properties and water quality parameters extracted from the data acquired from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). Finally, Geographic Information System-based corrosion risk maps of three different types of metal pipes were developed based on their estimated service lives. The developed maps will help ARDOT engineers to assess the corrosion potential of the metal pipes before starting the new construction and repair projects and will allow using proper culvert materials to maximize their life spans.
Highlights
Metal culverts or pipes are frequently used in Arkansas for different highway drainage structures and irrigation purposes. ese culverts are susceptible to significant corrosion
Arkansas has a history of culvert failures and corrosion of the metal culverts was found to be the major reason behind these failures. e Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) spends a significant amount of money in replacing and installing different types of culverts for crossdrains every year
E main objective of this study is to develop corrosion maps for Arkansas based on secondary data analysis, laboratory test results, neural network (NN) modeling for predicting soil resistivity, and estimation of service life
Summary
Metal culverts or pipes are frequently used in Arkansas for different highway drainage structures and irrigation purposes. ese culverts are susceptible to significant corrosion. E main objective of this study is to develop corrosion maps for Arkansas based on secondary data analysis, laboratory test results, neural network (NN) modeling for predicting soil resistivity, and estimation of service life. Most of the agency-developed methods for estimating the service life of metal pipes are based on soil resistivity, soil pH, water resistivity, and water pH Both the outer and inner sides of metal culverts are vulnerable to corrosion. An extensive literature review was carried out to estimate the service life and develop metal corrosion maps In this process, relevant data sources were identified, and relevant data and soil samples were collected. Based on the laboratory analysis of collected soil data and secondary data preprocessing and analysis, service lives of metal culverts in different locations of the state were estimated and mapped. Using Soil Data Viewer, an add-ins software, data were extracted as
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