Service Life Performance of Preventive and Rehabilitative Overlays on Virginia Bridge Decks: An Observational Study

Abstract

The overlaying of bridge decks has remained one of the most used rehabilitation methods to extend their service life. However, the long-term performance of overlays has not been entirely understood, and the significant challenge in studying the performance of overlays is the reason only minimal information exists and thus limits any scientific assessment of the system. This study aims to provide a strong framework and methodology for the understanding of the long-term performance of overlays and the factors affecting them. The paper discusses an extensive data collection process that lead to the development of a robust database of 133 overlaid bridge decks. The database was used in the development of a multiple regression model that provides a better understanding of the influence of the factors that affected the performance of overlays. In addition, survival fitting was conducted to estimate the service life of overlays. Preventive thin epoxy overlays were predicted to serve 18–22 years. Whereas, rehabilitative overlays, specifically latex-modified concrete, silica-fume, and very-early strength latex-modified concrete overlays, were predicted to serve 21–32 years. These results are in general agreement with earlier nationwide studies of epoxy and latex modified concrete overlays on bridge decks.