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TE-43 Methodologies for Reinforced Concrete Removal, Repair, Protection, and Rehabilitation
Reinforcements Are On the Way
Guide Specifications for Cathodic Protection of Concrete Bridge Decks
Manual For Corrosion Protection Of Concrete Components In Bridges

State highway agencies width limited budgets are faced with the continuing challenge of protecting, repairing, and rehabilitating concrete bridges exposed to chloride laden environments. Under the SHRP research program, several methods designed to attain these objectives have been developed, including standard physical, chemical, and experimental protection, repair, and rehabilitation methods. The eight main objectives of this project are:

  1. To identify all SHRP equipment, software, specifications, test procedures, and reference documents related to methodologies for removal, protection, and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete bridge decks and substructures;
  2. To obtain multiple sets of such equipment and software, and sufficient copies of all relevant technical documents for national distribution;
  3. To develop a workshop and instructional materials to explain, demonstrate, and promote the equipment and test procedures;
  4. To present two pilot workshops and up to 20 additional workshops to highway engineers and technicians at various locations;
  5. To make up to 20 additional presentations to highway engineers and technicians at various seminars, conferences, and other meetings;
  6. To develop and implement a program to lend equipment to States participating in such a loan program and to provide all necessary equipment, maintenance and training, and technical support (site visits, telephone support, etc) to State technicians and engineers;
  7. To cooperate with AASHTO and with the Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL) in a program for the roundrobin testing of the equipment and procedure; and
  8. To prepare technical materials for publications; and to provide reports describing the results of all activities.
Each SHRP method is described with respect to limitations, estimated service life and construction price/cost, construction procedures, quality assurance and construction inspection methods, and material performance specifications. In addition, rapid bridge deck protection, repair, and rehabilitation methods are presented. Two mechanized concrete removal methods, milling and hydrodemolition, are compared to the traditional method of pneumatic breakers. The three concrete removal methods are discussed with respect to labor and capital intensive operations, work characteristics, and quality management and control. The advantages of combining the strengths of the three removal methods are also presented, along with methods to estimate the remaining service life of concrete bridge components. With the minimum lifecycle cost in mind, economic models are presented to enable selection of the most cost-effective methods from the menu of protection, repair, and rehabilitation methods.

The contract for this Showcase project was awarded to Wilbur Smith Associates of Falls Church, Virginia, on August 10, 1994. Showcase presentations are being conducted.

Showcase workshops on assessment of physical condition of reinforced concrete structures.


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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

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Project Manager
Donald R. Jackson
HTA-22
(202) 366-6770