Stainless steel material selection for bridges
Stainless steels are inherently corrosion resistant. In the presence of oxygen, a tightly adherent protective layer of chromium oxide spontaneously forms on their surface, which means they can perform satisfactorily in a wide range of environments without protective coatings. This intrinsic characteristic of stainless steel is particularly important for bridges, which often need a long service life with minimum maintenance in aggressive environments.
This Steel Construction Institute webinar offers an introduction to structural design of stainless steel and a number of case studies of bridges from around the world, as well as information on material selection and welding.