Determining Strength Capacity of Deteriorated Reinforced Concrete Bridge Substructures

Abstract

Corrosion of steel reinforcement is a major factor in the deterioration of highway and bridge infrastructure. Knowing the initiation time of corrosion on a reinforced concrete structure provides a much needed source of information in evaluating the service life of the structure. To find the corrosion initiation time the effects of carbonation and chloride are examined. Furthermore, the different variables that affect the ingress of carbonation and chloride are also examined and analyzed together. Probabilistic modeling and stochastic design of these variables will determine the initiation of corrosion, the amount of corrosion, and the strength loss of the concrete pier. This process will help classify deteriorating structure into the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) condition ratings from the Federal Highway Administration.