Concrete Bridge Deck Performance Data and Metrics for the State of Oregon

Bridge decks are a critical element of a bridge that support and distribute vehicle loads to the superstructure. Because of the requirements of this role, bridge decks are exposed to severe conditions that typically lead to structural deficiency in bridges which is both costly and disruptive. Therefore, to keep bridges and highways in good repair, developing optimal preservation decisions for concrete bridge decks is key. In order to develop effective performance monitoring and preservation schedules, the parameters affecting bridge deck deterioration need to be better understood. With guidance from the literature and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) personnel, two datasets were created with data currently available through ODOT and the National Bridge Inventory (NBI). Using these datasets, a survival analysis utilizing Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to predict concrete bridge deck performance and identify the parameters that drive bridge deck deterioration. To compliment these findings, a survey was developed to identify information that should be collected on concrete bridge decks to improve performance monitoring. This survey was distributed to all Departments of Transportation\u27s (DOT\u27s) in the United States and to a few select non-destructive evaluation (NDE) contractors. Using the results from the survival analysis and the survey, a list of parameters that ODOT can use to improve concrete bridge deck performance monitoring in the future was compiled