TRIAL USE OF A STAINLESS STEEL-CLAD STEEL BAR IN A NEW CONCRETE BRIDGE DECK IN VIRGINIA

As part of the Virginia Transportation Research Council's effort to identify cost-effective, corrosion-resistant reinforcing bars that can be used in concrete bridges exposed to heavy salting, a 316L stainless steel-clad bar was tested in a new bridge deck under the Innovative Bridge Research and Construction Program sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration. This field project was aimed at supplementing a laboratory evaluation that confirmed the excellent corrosion resistance of this potentially cost-effective material. The project revealed no significant technical problem with substituting this type of bar for the black steel and epoxy-coated bars currently used. A life-cycle cost analysis indicated that, even though the initial cost of the clad bars is slightly higher, the long-term cost is lower and the service life expectancy of the structure increases.