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Bridge Deck Life Study. Progress Report; Sept. 13, 2001. Dan Fisher, Assistant Professor Oklahoma State University. Objectives. Correlate bridge deck life with salt use Estimate maintenance costs associated with salting. Study Parameters. Interstate highway system bridges
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Bridge Deck Life Study Progress Report; Sept. 13, 2001 Dan Fisher, Assistant Professor Oklahoma State University
Objectives • Correlate bridge deck life with salt use • Estimate maintenance costs associated with salting
Study Parameters • Interstate highway system bridges • Constructed in early ’60s • Relatively uniform standards and methods from state to state • Bridges in large metro areas • High traffic • Critical arteries
Overall Approach …no exit from the loop!
State DOT Data • Inspection reports • Universally available • Bridge-by-bridge data • Contain no maintenance or repair info. • “Contract” reports • Major repair and replacements only • part of the story • Usually provides bridge-by-bridge data
State DOT Data • Maintenance reports • not bridge-by-bridge data • Not well organized • Salt use reports • Almost non-existent • Purchase orders or invoices
Sources of Existing Data • TRIS database (Transportation Research Information Service) • Local studies & contacts • Starting point for additional data collection • ITDB database (Intermodal Transportation Database) • To be explored…
Current Target States No Salt State: California • LA freeways; valley side • Good contacts, good data High Salt State: Illinois • Chicago freeways • Good contacts, excellent data Moderate Salt State: Oklahoma • Oklahoma City freeways • Good contacts, poor data
Some Preliminary Results • High Salt • 86% of steel beam bridges replaced • Avg. Life < 29.6 years • No Salt • 0% of steel beam bridges replaced • Avg. Life >35 years
Problems… • We don’t know how long the “no-salt” bridges will last. • Extrapolate to “no-salt” life expectancy
Next Quarter Plans • Complete analysis for 3 target states • Add 1 more “high-salt” and one more “low-salt” state to study • Begin to accumulate “salt-use” and maintenance data