Visual Rating and Strength Testing of 40-Year-Old Precast Prestressed Concrete Bridge Piling

Abstract

The rating of bridge piles is primarily visual and requires judgment to quantify damage levels and, ultimately, to estimate the pile's remaining structural capacity. A series of tests was run to evaluate the existing capacity of piles that have been in service in a harsh saltwater environment for more than 40 years. In 2004, the Bryant Patton Bridge over Apalachicola Bay in the Florida Panhandle was replaced with a new bridge. The original bridge, which was demolished as part of the construction project, was constructed in 1963. During demolition, 12 prestressed concrete piles with varying levels of corrosion damage were recovered. Two of the selected piles were equipped with cathodic protection at the time of their installation in 1994 as part of a repair project that involved most of the pilings supporting the bridge. Visual inspections were conducted by Florida Department of Transportation divers on the selected piles before they were removed. After recovery of the piles, they were cleaned and flexural...