Designing More Durable Bridges
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| CARBON STEEL REBAR A new U.K. Highways Agency document recommends that the corrosion of carbon steel
reinforcing bar (pictured here) embedded in concrete can be solved by using stainless steel rebar. |
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| ELECTRONIC SCRAP For a wealth of information on the recycling of electronic scrap in the U.S.A., go to: www.nsc.org |
Nickel magazine, Mar. 02 -- Released in February 2002, Use of stainless steel reinforcement
in highway bridges (BA84/2) is the first document on the use of stainless as reinforcement for concrete to be
issued by the U.K. Highways Agency. It is aimed at resolving the corrosion problems in bridges.
The study examines both full and partial substitution of carbon steel, depending upon the category of bridge
and its location. It recommends stainless steel for the following bridge elements:
- parapet edge beams;
- sub-structures in splash zones adjacent to carriageways;
- sub-structures in marine environments; and
- areas below movement joints and on bearing shelves.
Guidance is also given for total replacement by stainless steel. The document can be downloaded free from the Highways Agency website.
Stainless Steel Rebar Standards Issued
Stainless steel bars for the reinforcement of and use in concrete (British Standard BS:6744:2001) was issued in September 2001. The revised document has increased the number of permissible austenitic grades to six, namely: S30400, S31600, S31653, S31803, S32760 and N08926. Guidance on their suitability for appropriate service conditions is provided.
The new document also recognises the higher strengths available with stainless rebar. Two levels are included: 500 newtons per square millimetre and 650 N/mm2. Carbon steel reinforcement currently has a highest strength level of 450N/mm2 but this is under review and is expected to be increased to 500N/mm2. Copies of the standard can be ordered at www.bsi-global.com.
Developing Markets in Asia
NiDI has a full slate of architecture, building and construction presentations planned for Southeast Asia in April and May.
A paper: Stainless Steel in Mass Rapid Transit Systems, will be presented by Dr. David Jenkinson, NiDI's Director, Australasia, at the 2002 World Metro Symposium & Exhibition in Taipei, April 25, 2002.
This will be followed by a 2-hour presentation on April 29th at Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems. Topics to be discussed include: stainless steel in railcars and in rail stations.
Architecture, Building and Construction Workshops will then be held by NiDI consultant Catherine Houska and Dr. Jenkinson, in Taiwan, Malayasia and Thailand in cooperation with the Taiwan Steel & Iron Industries Association and the Malayasian Iron & Steel Federation and the Thai Stainless Steel Development Association.
Three Architecture, Building and Construction workshops and three presentations on "The Use of Stainless Steel for Railcars and Rail Stations," will then be held in China, May 7-16. The venues are Beijing, Changchun and Qingdao, which have been chosen because they have both an active interest in architecture, building and construction and local industries which manufacture rail cars.
To close out the month's market development activities, Dr. Jenkinson will present a 1.5 hour talk on "High Performance Stainless Steels and Nickel Alloys" at the 8th China International Exhibition on Surface Engineering and Anti-Corrosion, May 16th.
Jules Garnier Prize
The Jules Garnier prize has been awarded to Imphy Ugine Precision for the development and industrial production of Gammaphy, an alloy designed for the manufacture of shadow masks used in real flat television tubes. The prize was awarded to two company representatives in Paris at the meeting the French Society of Metallurgy and Materials.
The Jules Garnier prize, created in 1965 and funded by Eramet, recognizes an original high level of scientific and/or technological achievement with a direct industrial application that contributes to the development of nickel use. The jury for the Jules Garnier prize comprises highly qualified specialists from research organizations and industry.
Gammaphy is a phase hardening iron-nickel alloy which combines a low coefficient of thermal expansion, high strength, excellent creep resistance at high temperatures (500°C), good soft magnetic properties and low coercive force.
Photo: CARROLL McCORMICK/NiDI
