Corrosion Guidelines
The Corrosion Branch developed these guidelines to help anyone who wants to understand corrosion and its impacts on Caltrans projects. Whether you are a Caltrans engineer, geologist, designer, specification writer, local agency, or consultant, this document is for you. The Standard Specifications, AASHTO LRFD CA Amendments, and other Caltrans documents contain requirements established by these guidelines. There are chapters on basic corrosion concepts, sampling for corrosive soils and waters, and corrosion mitigation.
The Corrosion Branch continually updates and revises its guidelines. Feedback from individuals using this document, along with the recommendations we provide to project designers, engineers, and others, enables us to continually improve the guidelines.
This page is dedicated to the Department of Engineering's definition of a corrosive environment and provides corrosion guidance to:
- Geotechnical engineers take samples for corrosion analysis.
- Structural design engineers regarding steel and concrete corrosion mitigation protection measures.
- Specification writers for structural elements in a corrosive environment.
- Consultants involved in Caltrans projects
- Laboratories doing corrosion testing.
- Local agencies and Caltrans Districts
Chapters
Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION (PDF)
Chapter 2. THE DEPARTMENT’S FUNCTIONAL GROUPS ASSISTING WITH CORROSION INVESTIGATIONS (PDF)
Chapter 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSULTANTS PROVIDING CORROSION ASSESSMENTS OF DEPARTMENT PROJECTS (PDF)
Chapter 4. CORROSION BASICS (PDF)
Chapter 5. PRINCIPLES OF CATHODIC PROTECTION (PDF)
Chapter 6. CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT (PDF)
Chapter 7. FOUNDATIONS (PDF)
Chapter 8. MSE STRUCTURES (PDF)
Chapter 9. SOIL AND ROCK ANCHOR SYSTEMS (PDF)
Chapter 10. CULVERTS (PDF)
Chapter 11. CORROSION LAB SERVICES (PDF)
Chapter 12. CORROSION MITIGATION MEASURES (PDF)
Chapter 13. Stray Current (PDF)
Chapter 14. Miscellaneous Topics (PDF)
Chapter 15. REFERENCES (PDF)