Evaluation of bridge deck sealers.

PDFTech ReportCDOT-2014-680.11Bridge decksSealing compoundsField testsConcrete bridgesEpoxidesSilaneMethyl methacrylateEvaluation and assessmentPressure resistanceColoradoColorado. Dept. of Transportation. Applied Research and Innovation BranchLiang, Yu-changGallaher, BenjaminXi, YunpingUniversity of Colorado at Denver. Dept. of Civil EngineeringUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThis study focuses on the evaluation of bridge deck sealers commonly used on highway bridge decks andtheir relative performance. After reviewing the most up-to-date research findings on chemical sealers usedby state DOTs, four sealer products that could potentially be used by the Colorado Department ofTransportation (CDOT) were selected for evaluation. High molecular weight methacrylate (HMWM), twoepoxies, and a silane were assessed for their skid resistance and ability to block or slow down moisture andchloride ion penetration into concrete bridge decks. Bridge structure E-17-QM (westbound US 36 to I-270over I-25) was selected for the field study. The four sealers were installed on the deck surface of Bridge E-17-QM by professional contractors on 06/02/2010. Skid resistance, temperature variation, moisturefluctuation, and chloride concentration profiles in concrete were selected as the four experimentalparameters for evaluating the performance of the four sealers. Eighteen integrated sensors were installedin the bridge decks in the five testing sections and at different depths for monitoring the internaltemperature and relative humidity distributions in concrete. Concrete cores were taken at four periodsduring the project to test for chloride concentration profiles. The British Pendulum Tester (BPT) was usedto measure the skid resistance of the concrete surface with and without sealers. From the analysis andcomparisons of the test data, the performances of the four sealers were ranked in terms of the fourexperimental parameters.ImplementationWithout further long-term data, the use of sealers is recommended as a viable short-term protectionsystem. If CDOT chooses to use a long-term bridge deck sealing system, HMWM is recommended overthe other sealers. Eligible bridge decks should be selected based on the assessment of percent deckdeterioration, estimated time to corrosion, deck surface condition, and concrete quality