Investigation of Soluble Salts on Kentucky Bridges

摘要

Invisible soluble salts present on steel highway structures can act to promote corrosion even after maintenance painting. Soluble salts include chloride, nitrate and sulfate ions. Soluble salts found on bridge decks and roadways are the result of usage of deicing salts (chlorides), and the deposition of atmospheric pollution (nitrates and sulfates) on exterior surfaces. Typical pollution-related sources of soluble salts are coal-fired power plants, refineries, farming operations, vehicle emissions, and chemical plants. Sites for soluble salt damage on bridges include: beam ends under open or leaking expansion joints, flanges and lower portions of webs of overpass structures, lower chords and connecting members (end posts, portals, vertical posts and diagonals), and guard rails of truss bridges near roadway level, and outside faces of fascia girders and other bridge elements constantly exposed to the environment.