Super-Weathering Steel for Infrastructure Applications. Final Report for Highway Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) Project 160

摘要

The objective of this project was to develop new, low-cost steels with better weathering characteristics than those of presently used weathering steels. 'Weathering' means that due to their chemical compositions, these steels exhibit increased resistance to atmospheric corrosion compared to unalloyed steels; a protective oxide layer forms on the steel surface under the influence of the weather. The use of weathering steels in infrastructure provides cost savings as well as environmental benefits. The initial cost savings of more than 10 percent are realized because there is no need in painting and steel is easier to install and handle during the construction. Life cycle cost savings are more than 30 percent because weathering steels require less maintenance and are more durable than common construction steels. Use of weathering steels provides significant environmental benefits also because there are no volatile organic compounds (VOC) from paints and because there is no need in removal or disposal of contaminated blast debris over the life span of the structure. Due to these benefits, the use of weathering steels increases specifically for the construction of new highway bridges.