Selected Answers

From Mike Beitzel of Modjeski and Masters on December 19, 2022:
To prevent rusting splice plate faying surfaces sh ...read more To prevent rusting splice plate faying surfaces should be cleaned and painted with a zinc primer or other primer that has passed the required slip -coefficient testing. The bolts in my opinion should be galvanized and installed over a primed surface to prevent rusting of the seam between the fasteners and the steel plates. The fastener system components should be solvent cleaned to remove wax from nuts and the fasteners surfaces lightly abraded and prime coated to repair any damaged galvanizing that resulted from installation and tightening. The use of load indicating washers in my opinion should also be avoided to prevent future rusting unless the coating system mil thickness is sufficient to bridge and seal the gap that remains under the washer after installation.