This paper discusses the material selection, fabrication, and construction of Virginia’s first corrosion resistant ASTM A1010 plate girder bridge. In 2013, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) began investigating if steel plate options were available that would provide greater corrosion resistance when compared to weathering steel. The idea was to determine if a reduced maintenance steel plate product existed that could be fabricated into bridge girders.
A study was initiated to determine if corrosion resistant plate steel was being commercially produced that could be used to fabricate plate girders for bridges. An initial investigation revealed that the Federal Highway Administration had evaluated a type of steel, ASTM A1010 (also known as ASTM A709 Grade 50CR), which had subsequently been used in several Oregon DOT bridges. Discussions with Oregon DOT, material suppliers, and fabricators ensued and were documented. VDOT then initiated and documented the design, fabrication, and construction of its first corrosion resistant ASTM A1010 plate girder bridge. This paper shares those findings.
Key words: ASTM A1010, ASTM A709 Grade 50CR, Stainless Steel, Bridge, Girders, Corrosion Resistant