Spanning the decades : how stainless steel became the material of choice for modern bridges
Of all the materials used for bridges over the centuries , stainless steel will likely prove the most effective and durable . Europe led the way in using duplex grades , though some use was also made of austenitics . In the USA , a ferritic-martensitic dual-phase grade has found favour , but duplex grades are being assessed and more frequently applied . Among the reasons for this are the excellent mechanical properties of duplex , its corrosion resistance , and its favourable strength-to-weight ratio .
By James Chater