AN ELECTRICAL METHOD FOR EVALUATING BRIDGE DECK COATINGS

AN ELECTRICAL METHOD FOR EVALUATING BRIDGE DECK COATINGS IS BEING EXPERIMENTALLY USED ON CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY BRIDGES. FIELD AND LABORATORY TESTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF A BRIDGE DECK COATING CAN BE RELATED TO THE VOIDS AND, THUS, SEALING ABILITY OF THE COATING. THIS NONDESTRUCTIVE METHOD OF EVALUATING BRIDGE DECK COATINGS MAY BE AN ADDITIONAL TOOL FOR EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF MEMBRANES USED TO PREVENT THE INGRESS OF DE-ICING SALTS THAT CAUSES CORROSION OF THE STEEL. /AUTHOR/