USE OF GROUT PADS FOR SIGN AND LIGHTING STRUCTURES: PART 1 - STRUCTURAL EVALUATION; PART 2 - CORROSION STUDY

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the structural behavior and durability of sign and lighting structure annular base plates constructed with grout pads. Two separate experimental programs were undertaken; one related to structural behavior and one related to durability. Part 1 of this report deals with the evaluation of structural behavior, while Part 2 deals with the evaluation of durability (corrosion study). The structural evaluation included testing of unstiffened and stiffened base places installed with and without grout pads. The specimens tested consisted of a tubular member welded to an annular base plate and connected to a foundation with anchor bolts. The tubular members were loaded with a transverse load in order to produce a moment at the base plate-to-foundation connection. The results of the structural test program were used to develop strength and serviceability design recommendations for grouted base plates. The strength design recommendations include equations for determining the base plate thickness and the diameter of the anchor bolts. The serviceability recommendations provide a means to evaluate the rotation that could be expected within the base plate connection when a bending moment was applied. The durability evaluation involved corrosion testing of the anchor bolts in annular base place connections with and without grout pads. The results of this study indicate that grout does provide a significant protection against corrosion.