Introduction

Field investigations by Romanoff and other researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)(formerly the National Bureau of Standards [NBS])⁽¹⁾ in the 1960s and earlier demonstrated that steel pilings are not significantly affected by corrosion in undisturbed soil, regardless of the soil type and properties.¹ On the other hand, recent examinations of steel piles exposed during bridge-pier construction in several states have revealed severe corrosion damage, including complete severing of the piles in corrosive soil strata. The problem appears to be associated primarily with the use of man-made materials such as slag and cinders for fill around the piling. Extensive corrosion damage has also been observed in related structures such as reinforced soil structures in similar environments.

⁽¹⁾ National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (formerly National Bureau of Standards [NBS]), Gaithersburg, MD 20899.