ENVIRONMENTAL DETERIORATION EFFECTS IN BRIDGE WIRES

The findings of inspections of suspension bridge cables in the New York metropolitan area, as well as reports on cable conditions of suspension and cable-stayed bridges worldwide, are briefly summarized. Although the conditions of the New York bridge cables are generally satisfactory, especially considering that their age is from 60 to almost 120 years, some effects of environmental deterioration are evident. While the effects of corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement on the static and fatigue strength have been extensively investigated for various metals, a similar research effort directed toward bridge wires has been conspicuously absent. In order to clarify the relative importance of hydrogen embrittlement on bridge wires, the Carleton Laboratory of Columbia University conducted a series of tests on the hydrogen sensitivity of cold-drawn bridge wires.