Effect of Wood Preservatives on Stress-Laminated Southern Pine Bridge Test Decks

For wood to work successfully in external environments, it must be treated with chemical preservatives. This study determined the effect of various oil- and water-based preservative on the performance of stress-laminated Southern Pine bridge decks. This 2 1/2 - year study was limited to one species for the wood laminations and one type of stress-laminated system. Nine half-width, full-length stress-laminated test decks were constructed of Southern Pine lumber. Each test deck was treated with one of seven preservatives and outfitted with one of three bar anchorage types. Moisture content levels did not change significantly throughout the monitoring period, which implies that the wood had achieved moisture equilibrium prior to testing.