Corrosion protection system for construction and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete bridges

Corrosion of metallic structures has a significant impact on the USA economy. In a recent study, the total direct cost of corrosion was determined to be $276 billion per year, of which the costs associated with the infrastructure represent 16.4%, a sizeable portion. The dollar impact of corrosion on highway bridges is considerable. The average annual direct cost of corrosion for highway bridges (including steel) was estimated to be $8.29 billion. Based on the annual cash outflows, the analysis shows that indirect (user) costs can exceed the direct cost by a factor of ten or more. The paper presents details on various methodologies presently used for rehabilitation of reinforced concrete bridges. In addition, the rationale for calculating annual cost of corrosion is discussed. A brief synopsis on various corrosion protection systems for the new construction is also provided.