Thin Polysulfide Epoxy Bridge Deck Overlays

Abstract

Over the past decade, polysulfide epoxy overlays have emerged as a cost-effective solution for protecting steel orthotropic and concrete bridge decks. The low modulus of the polysulfide epoxy resin, combined with its excellent bonding characteristics and easy application, makes it a suitable material for bridge deck overlays. More recently, epoxy overlays also have been successfully used on fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composite and timber bridge decks. Two major case studies on the use of polysulfide epoxy overlays as a wearing surface for multiple bridge deck materials are reported. In the first study, the thermal and mechanical properties of polysulfide epoxy materials were evaluated in laboratory testing; tests were performed on both steel and FRP substrates. In the second study, applications of thin polysulfide epoxy overlay placed on a steel orthotropic deck and an FRP composite bridge deck were evaluated in the field.