Polymer Coated Structural Plate and Fastener Testing
a report by Elzly Technology | a KTA Tator Company
Plain galvanized corrugated steel structural plate buried bridges have been used successfully in tens of thousands of projects across the US, North America and around the world since it’s development nearly a century ago. It is the most sustainable and resilient product for short span steel bridge applications. The product however is still limited to the environments in which zinc coatings can perform long term (80 to 100 years). To solve this problem for pipe, about 50 years ago plain galvanized corrugated steel pipe was coated with polymer laminate to improve performance and allow for use in more aggressive environments. This technology of using a polymer coating is now being applied to corrugated steel structural plate. Providing even greater resiliency to the most sustainable product on the market, steel.
Polymer coated corrugated steel structural plate has been developed as a more durable and resilient alternative to galvanized steel structural plate. Corrugated plate structures are assembled using threaded fasteners which also receive a polymer coating. This report describes testing performed to support the development of a new ASTM specification for polymer-coated corrugated steel structural plate.
Initial testing was performed on test panels representing combinations of plate and fastener coatings considered to be candidate materials. Coating materials were selected with performance similar to that required in ASTM A742/A742M, Standard Specification for Steel Sheet, Metallic Coated and Polymer Precoated for Corrugated Steel Pipe. The new ASTM standard was developed to be consistent with ASTM A761/A761M, Standard Specification for Corrugated Steel Structural Plate, Zinc-Coated, for Field-Bolted Pipe, Pipe-Arches, and Arches while incorporating applicable requirements of ASTM A742/A742M. Follow-up testing was performed to ensure the selected product met the final specification requirements.
The testing on each system included adhesion, impact, abrasion, chemical imperviousness, breaking torque, freeze thaw resistance and weatherability. A summary of the testing is contained in Table 11 and 12 of the report. Attachment II summarizes the test results for the products which meet the requirements of ASTM A1113/A1113M, Standard Specification for Corrugated Steel Structural Plate, Polymer-Coated, for Field-Bolted Pipe, Pipe-Arches, and Arches.
In conclusion, the results of this testing indicate that polymer coated corrugated steel sheets and bolts used for structural plate buried bridges boost performance and allow for use in more aggressive environments. This technology will provide even greater resiliency to the most sustainable product on the market, steel.
Attachment II summarizes the test results for the products which meet the requirements of ASTM A1113/A1113M, Standard Specification for Corrugated Steel Structural Plate, Polymer-Coated, for Field-Bolted Pipe, Pipe-Arches, and Arches.