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The contents of this report reflect the views of the author(s), who is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Any inclusion of manufacturer names, trade names, or trademarks is for identification purposes only and is not to be considered an endorsement.

Title:

Effect of Calcium Nitrite on the Properties of Concrete Used in Bridge Decks

Authors:

H. Celik Ozyildirim

Year:	1992

VTRC No.:	93-R4
Abstract:	Chloride-induced corrosion of the reinforcing steel in bridge decks can impair its structural integrity and cause spalling, which reduces the ride quality of the deck. One system to prevent corrosion involves the use of corrosion inhibitors in freshly mixed concrete. This study evaluates the properties of field concretes containing the inhibitor, DCI (calcium nitrite) and assesses their field performance over a 3-year period. Comparative tests were made on a two-span bridge, one span of which had epoxy coated bars with regular concrete and the other uncoated bars with concretes containing DCI. The results indicate that the properties of the hardened concretes containing DCI were satisfactory and similar to those of the regular concretes. A conclusion on the effectiveness of DCI was not reached because of the limited time available; consequently, a follow-up evaluation is recommended. At present, the continued use of epoxy-coated reinforcing steel is recommended.