Proposals Requested for Hybrid Steel Plate Girder Pooled Fund Study

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is requesting proposals for Transportation Pooled Fund Study TPF-5(493), “Investigation of Dual Grade/Hybrid Steel Plate Girders Utilizing Stainless Steel.”

Proposals are due by Friday, December 16, 2022

Executive Summary

​The corrosion of steel bridges is an ongoing concern for bridge owners due to maintenance and replacement costs. Recently, there have been successful corrosion resistance tests performed on ASTM A709 Grade 50CR (stainless) steel in plate girder bridges.

Before stainless steel’s adoption into ASTM A709, the steel was marketed under ASTM A1010 and has currently been used in 5 states (OR, CA, IA, PA, VA) and Canada.

Utilizing stainless steel (Grade 50CR) for the portion of the steel girder near bridge deck joints and Grade 50, 50W, etc. for the remainder of the girder provides a means to mitigate deterioration in areas exposed to run-off from failed deck joints. Targeting the use of Grade 50CR to specific areas of the bridge requires bolting or welding stainless steel to conventional steel.

The dual grade plate girder provides a reduction in the life cycle maintenance costs and increases the service life of the bridge. However, dual grade connections may be prone to galvanic corrosion or require fabrication processes that differ from conventional plate girder fabrication processes.

To take advantage of the corrosion resistant cost savings of a dual grade girder, research is needed to address the galvanic corrosion and fabrication of the dual grade connections.​

For more information or to submit a proposal, please refer to the Connect NCDOT website.

Administrative Contacts:

Mustan Kadibhai, P.E., CPM
Research Engineer
Research and Development Office
North Carolina Department of Transportation
919 707 6667 office
makadibhai@ncdot.gov

Technical Contact:
Trey H. Carroll, P.E.
Policy Development
Structures Management Unit​
North Carolina Department of Transportation
919 707 6465 office
thcarroll1@ncdot.gov