Study of the Role of Fatigue in Interstate 81 Bridge Closure Slab Failure

About the project:

In 2009, a concrete closure slab failed after 17 years on an Interstate 81 bridge near Marion, Va. A closure slab connects the travel lanes on a bridge. The Virginia Department of Transportation found in this case that the epoxy-coated rebar in the bridge deck had corroded and showed shear type failures across its connecting construction joints.

The Virginia Tech team will determine whether fatigue contributed to this failure and to what degree. It will also study the deflection criteria or crack width, across the closure pour joint, warranting special attention. The team will test sections from similar structures as well as newly fabricated closure pour sections. This is part of VDOT’s continuing work to implement the use corrosion resistant reinforcement (CRR) in bridges. FHWA now requires bridges to be designed for a 100-year service life, which CRR can provide.

Project Team

Other Investigators