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Pack Rust Identifi cation and Mitigation Strategies for Steel Bridges

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posted on 2019-01-03, 20:17 authored by Chintan Hitesh PatelChintan Hitesh Patel
Pack rust or crevice corrosion is a type of localized corrosion. When a metal is in contact with a metal, or even non-metal, the metal starts to corrode, and rust starts to pack in between the surfaces. When signi cant development of pack rust occurs, it can cause overstressing of bolts and rivets causing them to fail, and it can bend connecting plates and member elements thus reducing their buckling capacity. Thus it is important to mitigate the formation and growth of pack rust in bridges. This study was conducted to determine if pack rust occurs frequently and thereby may pose a problem in the state of Indiana. The study is divided into three primary tasks.The rst part of the study involves understanding the parameters involved in the initiation process of crevice corrosion and post-initiation crevice corrosion process. The second part of the study involves reviewing existing mitigation strategies and repair procedures used by state DOTs. The third part of the study involves identifying steel bridges with pack rust in Indiana. Analyses were performed on the data collected from Indiana bridges that have pack rust. This involved nding the components and members of bridges which are most a ected by pack rust and nding parameters which in uence the formation of pack rust. Pack rust in the steel bridges were identi ed using the INDOT inspection reports available through BIAS system. The study revealed that good maintenance practices helped in reducing pack rust formation. The study identi ed locations on steel bridges which have a high probability towards pack rust formation. A mitigating strategy possessing qualities which can show promising results is identi ed.

History

Degree Type

  • Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Department

  • Civil Engineering

Campus location

  • West Lafayette

Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair

Mark D. Bowman

Additional Committee Member 2

Arun Prakash

Additional Committee Member 3

Ayhan Irfanoglu