Use of Duplex Stainless Steel Plate for Durable Bridge Construction

The paper considers the use of alternative materials for bridge construction to provide owners with long term durable structures requiring minimum maintenance. The materials considered are a family of stainless steels referred to as duplex stainless steels. The paper considers the history of development of duplex steels and reports on the latest generation of steels with lean alloy contents that provide good levels of corrosion resistance without the excessive cost premium often associated with stainless steels. The paper includes examples of recent uses of these steels on bridge structures and outlines where further research is required to provide the greater confidence needed to encourage owners and designers to adopt the steels more widely.