Project 1b: Spalling Solution of Precast - Prestressed Bridge Deck Panels

Precast-prestressed concrete panels are commonly used in the construction of concrete bridge decks. Almost all prefabricated bridge decks in Missouri Department of Transportation's (MoDOT's) inventory consist of precast-prestressed 3" thick deck panels and cast-in-place 5.5" thick slabs on top of the panels. The precast-prestressed concrete panels serve as formwork for the cast-in-place concrete slabs and accelerate the construction of bridge decks in a cost-effective way. Traditionally these panels are reinforced with mild steel temperature reinforcement in the traffic direction along with low-relaxation seven wire steel prestressing strands perpendicular to the traffic direction (along the length of the panel). It was recently observed that some bridges in MoDOT inventory have experienced rusting of embedded steel reinforcement and concrete spalling issues in deck panels. The plausible reasons for spalling observed in many bridges currently in service likely include corrosion of the steel in the panels due to use of deicing salts, permeability/cracking in the panels, and inadequate concrete cover. Corrosion of steel reinforcement can be detrimental as it can result in shorter life spans for the deck panels. Since the use of stay-in-place deck panels has proven to be a very cost-effective practice for concrete bridge deck constructions in Missouri, it is of interest to examine ways to mitigate spalling and the resulting service-life reduction associated with corrosion of embedded reinforcement in these panels. Hence an investigation of the causes and development of solutions including alternate design options for these panels will have a significant economic impact on MoDOT bridge construction practices. Further, as steel reinforcing bar prices continue climbing and more rusting/spalling issues appear, eliminating the steel in these panels could become cost effective. The idea proposed in this project is to replace the steel reinforcement, both prestressed and nonprestressed, by fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars and perform experimental testing of these panels to evaluate their long-term structural performance.

• Record URL:
  http://utc.mst.edu/research/R234.html

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $349010.00
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT06-G-0014

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies

  Missouri University of Science and Technology
  Rolla, MO  United States  65409

  Missouri Department of Transportation

  1617 Missouri Boulevard
  P.O. Box 270
  Jefferson City, MO  United States  65102
• Principal Investigators:

  Belarbi, Abdeldjelil

• Start Date: 20080901
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20100831
• Source Data: RiP Project 18896

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Cast in place concrete; Corrosion protection; Deicing chemicals; Fiber reinforced polymers; Precast concrete; Prestressed concrete bridges; Research projects; Spalling
• Geographic Terms: Missouri
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I30: Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01462501
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies
• Contract Numbers: DTRT06-G-0014
• Files: UTC, RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 2:04PM