Corten Steel Bridge/Corten Steel Pedestrian Bridge

Have you spotted a rusty-looking bridge in your community or while traveling? From pedestrian bridges to highway bridges, corten-equivalent weathering steel is often used as an alternative for bridge construction. While conventional steel bridges take advantage of the latest advances in automated fabrication and construction techniques to provide economic solutions, weathering steel bridges offer further benefits.

The benefits of using weathering steels for bridge construction

Weathering steel offers practical advantages over other metals for structures that are exposed to the elements, such as bridges. Weathering steel…

• Is corrosion-resistant: Due to its chemical makeup, weathering steel forms a protective rust patina that prevents corrosion in suitable environments.In fact, the corrosion rate is so low that bridges fabricated from unpainted weathering steel can achieve a 120-year design life with minimal maintenance.
• Blends well in outdoor environments: The unpainted appearance of weathering steel blends well in gardens, backyards, parks, and other outdoor environments where bridges are required. Initially, weathering steel bridges appear orange-brown, but as the patina begins to form the color improves with age into a darker brown.
• Eliminates the need for site painting: By eliminating the need for site painting operations, using weathering steel in bridge construction reduces the duration of construction.
• Requires minimal maintenance: Periodic inspection and cleaning should be the only maintenance required to ensure the weathering steel structure continues to perform well. This characteristic makes weathering steel ideal for bridges where access can be difficult and disruption needs to be minimized.
• Is a cost-effective alternative: The minimal maintenance requirement along with the elimination of painting greatly reduces bridge construction cost. In fact, the cost of using weathering steel for bridge construction is about 5 percent lower than using conventional painted steel.

All in all, weathering steel has a proven track record. A study by TRL indicated that bridges built with weathering steel over the last 20 years continue to perform well.

Bridge construction products

ASTM A847 hollow structural sections are commonly recommended for bridge and railing applications. With hollow structural sections, you need less steel to do the same job. ASTM A847 is commonly used for bridge applications along with light/utility poles, sign supports, and building construction. 

ASTM A847 Chemical Requirements For Round and shaped Tubing :

ASTM A847 Tensile Requirements

About weathering steel

Weathering steels are a family of ASTM specifications and several trademarked specifications exhibiting similar corrosion-resistant properties. The ASTM specifications are A588, A242, A606-4, A847, A871-65 and A709-50W. The primary trademarked weathering steel product is Cor-ten®. After Cor-ten® gained popularity, other producing mills began to develop their own atmospheric corrosion resistant steel. Consequently, ASTM created what is considered equivalent specifications to Cor-Ten® in most applications. The applicable equivalent ASTM specifications are ASTM A588, A242, A606-4, A847 and A709-50W.

FAQ

 

 

01.What type of steel is best for bridges?

Bridge engineers choose weathering steel for its performance, economic and environmental benefits.

02.What are the advantages of corten steel?

The longevity and low maintenance nature of Corten Steel make it a highly cost-effective choice in the long run. Its durable nature means fewer replacements over time, resulting in cost savings. The absence of painting and ongoing maintenance costs also contribute to Corten's cost-effectiveness.

03.What is a weathering steel bridge?

Weathering steel is a high strength low alloy steel that, in a suitable environment, may be left unpainted due to the formation of an adherent protective rust "patina".

04.How long will corten steel last?

Generally, Corten steel will patina or rust within six months of atmospheric exposure. Most weathering steel types need wet/dry weather cycles to develop and oxidize. With the protective rust that provides corrosion resistance, Corten steel can last upwards of a few decades to over 100 years.

05.Is Corten stronger than mild steel?

Corten steel is the best choice if you want a material that doesn't rust, has high strength, is flexible, is easy on the eyes, doesn't need a lot of care and maintenance, and is friendly to the environment and meets all the rules. Mild steel, also called low-carbon steel, has less than 0.25 parts per million of carbon.

Company profile

 

Founded in 2008, Gnee (Tianjin) Supply Chain Group Co., Ltd. specializes in the global trade and processing of Corten steel products.
• We handle all kinds of Corten engineering projects, such as bridges, gardens, hotels, and facade systems.
• Compliant with ASTM, EN, and other international standards; third-party inspection supported.
• Exported to over 200 countries and regions worldwide.
• 8 subsidiaries across China and overseas, ensuring global service coverage.
Application Fields: Architecture, landscaping, gardening, cladding, and urban infrastructure.