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Pittsburgh bridge collapse 2

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Too much reliance on weathering steel, too little attention to maintenance.
 
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That's a bit unfair, even from the news clip.

More like No one looked at or did anything about the recommendations from the inspection reports for 10 years....

So presumably this weathering steel doesn't like being submerged in water / kept constantly damp or with quite anaerobic conditions?

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
 
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How is it unfair? I didn't fault the inspection, but rather the maintenance... which follows inspection. You are correct about weathering steel. And a big part of the lack of maintenance, also probably the design, was failure to ensure adequate drainage.
 
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Yup, Corten needs wet/dry cycles to prevent ongoing corrosion. It is the same reason why Corten is not a good choice in high chloride environments. The salt keeps the surface continuously damp and corrosion keeps getting deeper.
 
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I meant a bit unfair to ascribe to the NTSB a simplistic comment like that.

Heres the main NTSB page with downloads


Attached is the summary report issued 3rd May this year.

This bridge started seriously rusting from when it was built 17 years ago....

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
 
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Littleinch said:
I meant a bit unfair to ascribe to the NTSB a simplistic comment like that.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I paraphrased.

Here is the non-simplistic full quote.

NTSB Report said:
However, as with any other steel, failure to properly maintain uncoated weathering steel can lead to corrosion damage,deterioration, and section loss in critical components, thus reducing the safety and service life of the bridge.
Click to expand...
 
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LittleInch said:
I meant a bit unfair to ascribe to the NTSB a simplistic comment like that.
Click to expand...

I took it more as a jab at the owners/maintainers of these bridges. The fact that the NTSB would feel the need to make such a comment should be insulting to those that should know better.
 
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The comment was harsh... but, maybe in order. There may be 'hundreds' of bridges in the same condition that need immediate remedy. The full context of the quote was not available. This is a problem with many newscasters... they often don't ask the right questions and often 'get handed scripts'.

About a decade back, I repaired the hydraulic ram guiderails for a local floodway. The S24 beams were badly corroded. The problem was that they were Corten, in a wet environment. It was made worse because the wet environment was 'flowing' with particulate. It was a bad choice of material, but had been used because it was a relatively new product (at the time of construction) and seemed like an excellent material (I suspect, I didn't look into why it was selected.)... like a poor man's stainless.

-----*****-----
So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik
 
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This site links to the report.
NTSB Urges Action for Bridges Nationwide 5/18/2023
Screenshot_from_2023-05-26_20-58-28_y3cxed.png


Perhaps the difference between hole and whole is unknown to some.
 
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"NTSB investigators found other Pennsylvania bridges with similar issues. The agency asked the Federal Highway Administration to develop a process for bridge owners to perform follow-up actions on bridges with uncoated weathering steel components."


DONE:

Bridge owners, or their representatives, shall read and act on bridge inspection reports.


Anyone know where I can send a bill for the creation of this extensive directive? I'd surely like a few million dollars in my account.



spsalso
 
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Proposed directive (spsalso) said:
Bridge owners, or their representatives, shall read and act on bridge inspection reports.
Click to expand...

[URL unfurl="true" said:
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/nbis.cfm[/URL]]The National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) are the standards established over the safety inspections of highway bridges on public roads throughout the United States. The U.S. Congress originally required the Secretary of Transportation to establish these standards in 1968. The original NBIS was published in 1971, creating our Nation's first nationally coordinated bridge inspection program.
Click to expand...

Currently the requirement to act on inspection findings seems a bit weak. There could be implementing regulations that are more forceful.

Screenshot_from_2023-05-28_13-47-58_kayr39.png

Screenshot_from_2023-05-28_13-48-29_jwv0tj.png

Screenshot_from_2023-05-28_13-49-12_wxgqhn.png

Reference
 
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Blaming weathering steel is a bit silly. This was a steel K-frame bridge and the web of some of the legs was so rusted out there were holes in it. That kind of damage doesn't happen overnight and was noted on the inspection reports. What kind of owner turns a blind eye to that?
 
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I don't think the blame is on the weathering steel, rather on the lack of knowledge of same. It goes to show you can't pick and choose your infrastructure or those you leave in charge on simplistic stereotypes of convenience. Ignorance bites.
 
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spsalso,

You forgot one part of your solution. They must also understand what they are reading.

I'll settle for 10% of your billing for creation of the directive, as a review fee.
 
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