EPOXY-COATED REBAR PERFORMANCE IN THE DECK OF THE PERLEY BRIDGE

摘要

The Perley Bridge spans the Ottawa River between the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. During a 1979 rehabilitation project, epoxy-coated rebar (ECR) was installed in an effort to extend the service life of span 17. External signs of corrosion were observed in the west lane of span 17 as early as 1985, but none were observed in the east lane. The cover concrete on the east lane was almost twice that of the west lane. A wide variety of techniques were used to evaluate the difference between slabs cut from the east and west lanes. The most useful techniques were potential mapping, chloride profiling, petrographic analyses, adhesion testing, epoxy damage, analyses of reinforcing bar-concrete cross- sections, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements of epoxy properties. Cover depth and chloride contamination were the most significant factors affecting damage to the rebar. Based on these techniques, results showed that the epoxy coating used on the west lane of the Perley Bridge deck in span 17 provided only 1 to 4 years of additional corrosion protection over bare rebar.