| The effects of bridge design parameters on the deterioration of concrete bridge decks in Alberta are investigated. Deterioration is quantified with copper-sulphate electrode (CSE) test results for 460 bridges. Decks are rehabilitated after approximately 20 to 30 years for steel and concrete girders respectively. Decks on simple span bridges have significantly lower corrosion levels than decks on continuous spans. There is poor correlation between concrete cover thickness and CSE readings in bridge decks 20 to 35 years old when decks are cracked. Most bridge decks are cracked. In such situations, one may conclude that, if increasing the depth of cover has little influence on corrosion, improving the quality of the concrete cover will have little influence on CSE readings. The use of waterproof membranes and crack control measures is recommended. Other factors showing a lesser influence on deterioration include maintenance and rehabilitation, transverse span-to-depth ratio, longitudinal bar spacing, and girder stiffness. |
