Deterioration Rates of Concrete Bridge Decks

Abstract

Procedures are developed for estimating the parameters required for life‐cycle costing of the elements of maintenance and rehabilitation of concrete bridge decks subject to the deteriorative effects of deicing chemicals. The included elements are the age and extent of deterioration at which annual maintenance can be expected to begin, the rate of increase in annual maintenance, and the age at which rehabilitation is required. The information presented is primarily of use in formulating repair/rehabilitation/replacement policy. The calculated values of the parameters may be expected to vary considerably from observed values of individual bridges, but should reasonably reflect mean values for large numbers of bridges.