RESEARCH REPORT R62-17 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Materials Research Laboratory PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEYS OF BRIDGE DECKS Egons Tons Assistant Professor of Materials June 6, 1962 Sponsored By Massachusetts Department of Public Works Joint Highway Research Project DSR 9547 School of Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge 39, Massachusetts

ABSTRACT The performance of a bridge deck under traffic depends upon many factors. Some of them are external and often beyond the control of the bridge engineer; others are associated with materials and design. In order to determine the most frequent material and structural defects 104 bridges were surveyed in Massachusetts using a newly developed photographic technique. The report gives a summary of the results obtained from this survey.

i I

PREFACE This report was prepared as a part of the program of the Joint Highway Research Project, established at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Works for research in the field of highway engineering. This survey was possible only through the cooperation of Joseph E. O'Neil, Research and Materials Engineer, and John F. McGovern, Supervisor of Bridge Operation and Maintenance, both from the Massachusetts Department of Public Works. They helped in the initial planning and supplied a truck and a driver for this survey. The photographic work was done by Mr. Friedrich W. Lange, a student assistant.

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................-..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................-.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................-...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................-..........................................................-..........................................................................-.............................................................................-................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ -.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. - -......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... -..................................................................... -............ - - - - -......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... -.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. V.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ---................. --------------------------.-.................................................................................................................. X........................................................... XK~:K: i a.................................................... II............ 0.1.................................................................................................................................................. 3-gure 1. A'Cruc a l i i-it; on survey ot"- roaa —" surll-ace.

1. Introduction The performance of a bridge deck under traffic depends upon many factors. Some of them are external and often beyond the control of the bridge engineer; others however, are associated with materials and design of the bridge. A periodic survey in which the various defects are recorded is very desirable for the purpose of learning about the weak material areas in bridge structures and maintenance planning. While manual type of surveys have been used in the past on such condition surveys, the procedure is slow, inaccurate and often dangerous to the survey crew. In order to speed up recording of bridge deck condition a photographic method was developed using a Praktina automatic winding camera mounted on a truck 12 feet from the ground and moving at about five miles per hour (see Figure 1). The 35-mm film is processed and the evaluation of the bridge deck surface is done by projecting the individual frames on a grid screen. Thus, scaled areas, crack length, etc. can be determined and recorded. Scope and Purpose of this Survey Altogether 104 bridge decks were surveyed during the summer of 1960 by using the photographic method. The main

2. reasons for these surveys were: 1. To study the various types of material and structural defects. 2. To obtain permanent record of the bridge decks for developing a planned uniform maintenance program. 3. To make the results available to those interested, including national organizations such as the Highway Research Board. 4. To develop and further improve the photographic recording and projection-analysis techniques. Results The results of this survey are summarized in the following table. The defects are subdivided into four broad categories: 1. Scalinq Under this category surface defects due to deterioration of the concrete are recorded. About seven percent of the bridge decks had scaled areas. 2. Reinforcement Exposed Two of the bridges surveyed (two percent of the total) had reinforcement steel exposed. One of the cases was serious.

3. 3. Crack Length The total length of cracks of various width are tabulated for each bridge. More than 30 percent of the 104 bridges surveyed had some kind of cracking in the deck. One of them had multiple cracking so that actual length in feet could not be measured. 4. Joints Bridge joints appear to be the most frequent trouble spots; this can be particularly said about the approach joints (joints between bituminous pavement of the road and the bridge deck). Sealant failures are also very frequently encountered. Altogether more than 60 percent of bridges had some kind of joint defects. Summary This brief report gives a numerical account of the common defects observed on 104 bridges in Massachusetts, surveyed by a photographic method. The percentages of bridges with the various defects were as follows: 1. scaling - about 7 percent 2. reinforcement exposed - about 2 percent 3. cracks in deck - about 32 percent 4. joint troubles - about 62 percent

4. Recommendations It is recommended that: 1. Surveys of bridge decks be continued. This should include additional bridges as well as selected resurveys. 2. More experience is needed with the photographic survey techniques to develop a rational and detailed analysis method for the various defects. 3. In addition to photographing of the deck surface, a simple method for measuring riding roughness of the deck should be introduced.

.............................................................................................................................................-................................................................................-................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ I...,..I... I I I I I I. I I I 1, I I I.. I 1, ".1".1- I'l.l... ":,................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. -........ ---...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11.11,1111.1.111.11.............................................................................................................-1.1-1 —...........................................................................................................................................................................-;.......................................................................................................................................................................................-...................................................................................... I.-......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... I.I.I..''..-I-.1...........-.................................. -.-..............................................................................-.........................!!!!!Fijian 1:............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................-............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 111.1111.11 ....................................................................................................... 1.11.......... --- - l-.-.:. I' "'I ll I I" 1, "I''. I'' I'll, I.'I",,.................................................................................................. I........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11.1.....................''I'll.11,11.1 11.11...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I.............................. - - -........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1''..,...................... -.-................................................................................................................................. 1.1.1111.11...............................................................II..'','',''I'll'' I..,''I'll,...........................................................-......................................11.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... -- -..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................-................................................................................................................... Kiiji............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. I'll................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... -................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... -............................................................................................................................................................................................................ -''II.,.,., 11 1.11.11 I 1.''. I 1:1::::: ::.,: 11 I I'll..l. 11 I 11 I................................................................................................................................. -.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1.11.1-11......................................................................................................................................-.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... -.1- 1............................. - 11,......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1.111.11.1...................................................................................................................................................................... I.,............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ - 1.1- 11.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. -.-..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................-...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... - - -.- -.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................:::appr eciatio n:: -....................................................................................................................................................... & W i ls on;..................................................... -.1-............................................... I......................................................................................................................................................................................................-.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Figure 2. Automat with.100 feet long. film................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................-.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... " 21..................................................................................................................x.........................................................................................................................

SUMMARY OF BRIDGE DECK CONDITION Defects Bridge Approximate Scaling Reinforce- Crack Length No. Location Area, sq.ft. sq.ft. ment Exposed in ft. Joints 186-413-000 Carlisle 6480 - - - approach 190-414-002 Chelmsford 10790 1600 - bad 147-404-019 Ashland 4350 - - - approach 446-467-020 Newton 6230 - - 700 approach 997-497-020 Newton 2350 187-414-046 Chelmsford 5550 - - 40 187-414-044 Chelmsford 5700 - - 3 approach 008-414-010 Chelmsford 4270 - - - sealant 213-407-000 Belmont 4850 - - 70 093-502-005 Andover 6220 - - - approach 031-498-001* Wellesley 7480 191-502-040 Andover 10990 - - - 895-502-029 Andover 9880 - - - approach 895-502-042 Andover 10550 - - - 410-502-010 Andover 9050 - - - approach 884-522-012 Andover 8680 005-523-000 Middleton- 2350 - - - approach Danvers 005-506-004 Danvers 5590 - - 50 *Original bridge deck has been covered.

Defects Bridge Approximate Scaling Reinforce- Crack Length No. Location Area, sq.ft. sq. ft. ment Exposed in ft. Joints 050-509-049 Gloucester 3670 - - - approach 065-722-021* Kingston 7550 - - 130 065-722-020* Kingston 12640 - - 120 065-722-018* Kingston 3830 - - 10 760-734-003 Plymouth 7860 - - - approach 044-645-000 Hingham 15260 worn - 20 044-720-043* Hingham 7890 - 90 cracks 044-710-001 Duxbury 7720 - approach 065-734-021 Plymouth 4910 - 5 approach 0650734-008 Plymouth 6540 2 - approach 897-734-005 Plymouth 7540 -. 065-734-104 Plymouth 3830 approach 897-734-004 Plymouth 6090 approach 036-728-048 Middleboro 12660 approach 757-728-005 Middleboro 6620 approach 756-728-054 Middleboro 7480 897-728-001 Middleboro 6920 036-728-075 Middleboro 2510 approach 068-302-000 Athol-Orange 2650 - - - approach 068-294-006 Orange 10730 2 some - 068-294-015 Orange 4490 - - - 068-294-030 Orange 3490 560-294-032 Orange 6350 - 068-250-003 Orange-Wendell 1803 - 20 - 068-250-002 Orange-Wendell 4430 - - - sealant *Original bridge deck has been covered..4

Defects Bridge Approximate Scaling Reinforce- Crack Length No. Location Area, sq.ft. sc.ft. ment Exposed in ft. Joints 011-217-000 Gill 24130 - - 150 011-221-039 Greenfield 5950 5 approach 156-210-002 Colrain 4530 - - 25 155-206-023 Buckland 2070 - - 155-206-002 Buckland 3330 - - 5 - 011-206-000 Buckland 24140 - - 95 - 011-207-092 Charlemont 19130 110 - 011-110-000 Florida 5610 - - 011-124-046 North Adams 2820 - sealant 011-124-048 North Adams 1820 - sealant 018-124-019 North Adams 960 - sealant 130-124-003 North Adams 4760 - - 130-124-005 North Adams 4080 - - - approach 002-138-023 Williamstown 2990 - sealant 002-138-010 Williamstown 3680 - sealant 002-138-005 Williamstown 2980 - sealant 002-122-032 New Ashford 1560 - sealant 002-122-024* New Ashford 2730 - cracks 017-108-024 Dalton 3990 - sealant 001-111-002 Gr. Burrington 5670 - approach 001-133-013 Stockbridge 1310 - sealant 001-133-015 Stockbridge 5020 50 sealant 001-133-017 Stockbridge 4670 3 110 sealant 131-129-012 Russel 1800 - - - sealant 013-248-034 Ware 1550 *Original bridge deck has been covered.

Defects Bridge Approximate Scaling Reinforce- Crack Length No. Location Area, sq.ft. sq.ft. ment Exposed in ft. Joints 164-332-043 Monson 3100 - - - 023-309-051 Brimfield 970 - - - 023- 309-045 Brimfield 980 121-311-035 Charlton 2670 - - - 023-311-001 Charlton 2670 - - approach 023-337-008 Oxford 3320 004-362-050 Worcester 2670 1 bad 145 spalling 179-318-004 Grafton 3990 - - sealant 869-354-001 Uxbridge 3500 - 20 sealant 182-306-020 Blackstone 1990 - - - approach 182-306-019 Blackstone 2990 009-641-042 Taunton 2920 - - approach 034-640-000* Swansea 1480 - - cracks 941-615-003 Fall River 4930 - 60 771-615-016 Fall River 9950 - - sealant 964-615-002 Fall River 8870 - 10 approach 896-615-002 Fall River 8280 - 5 sealant 006-615-010 Fall River 3420 - 5 approach 010-692-025 Freetown 5700 - - 30 approach 896-692-001 Freetown 7020 - - sealant 010-626-060 New Bedford 5940 - - approach 037-748-025 Yarmouth 3410 - - - 897-748-001 Yarmouth 2500 897-709-001 Dennis 4260 236-709-022 Dennis 5580 - 10 approach *Original bridge deck has been covered.

0 Defects Bridge Approximate Scaling Reinforce- Crack Length No. Location Area, sq.ft. sq.ft. ment Exposed in ft. Joints 037-719-006 Harwich 5320 - - - approach 237-719-028 Harwich 5690 - - 115 approach 037-709-000 Yarmouth 6700 746-719-019* Harwich 5520 - - cracks 897-704-001 Brewster 4260 - - approach 037-732-015 Orleans 7020 - - - approach 897-732-001 Orleans 5360 1 - 5 approach 897-732-002 Orleans 6340 - 145 approach 047-732-042 Orleans 2420 005-642-027 Wrentham approach 896-620-001 approach *Original bridge deck has been covered.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ll11111011 111110 3 9015 03527 2676