Acceptable Crack Width Limit for UHPC Structural members in Coastal and Marine Environments

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is generally believed to be a particularly durable material, with significantly lower permeability than conventional concrete. It has been commonly used throughout the U.S. to join prefabricated concrete components. There is an increasing interest in its use for full scale structural members, such as piles and beams. Conventional concrete members such as those are generally designed for serviceability to limit crack size. As this would be a new application for UHPC, the acceptable crack size and design requirements to ensure serviceability are unknown. UHPC is an expensive material but its cost is justified because of improved durability and efficient section types. The potential for reduced cross-sections and/or reduced structural steel can significantly reduce the cost differential. This research will determine the allowable crack widths for UHPC so the desired durability is achieved and the added cost for its use is not wasted. To fully understand the durability and corrosion resistance of UHPC members, the cracking behavior of UHPC and the influence of cracks and crack width need to be investigated. In particular, the limit for acceptable crack width of UHPC for different exposure conditions, especially under coastal and marine environment, is of high interest. In the proposed study, the following will be studied: (1) the corrosion resistance of UHPC structural members with cracks; (2) the influence of crack width and self-healing on the durability and corrosion resistance of UHPC members; and (3) the uncertainty of crack widths in UHPC members and its effect on durability. The research results will help to determine the durability and corrosion resistance of UHPC under realistic cracking conditions, identify crack width limit for structural design, and understand the extent and influence of crack width variability. The objective of this research is to determine the effects of cracking and crack width on the durability and service life of UHPC structural elements in marine and coastal environments. Cracks to be investigated are those that develop under in-service loads

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $417146
• Contract Numbers:

  BED30 977-05

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Florida State University, Tallahassee

  217 Westcott Building
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32306-
• Managing Organizations:

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Research Center
  605 Suwannee Street MS-30
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Project Managers:

  Nolan, Steven

• Performing Organizations:

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Research Center
  605 Suwannee Street MS-30
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Principal Investigators:

  Zhang, Qian

• Start Date: 20220617
• Expected Completion Date: 20251031
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coasts; Corrosion resistance; Cracking; Durability; Ultra high performance concrete
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01848856
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Florida Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: BED30 977-05
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 20 2022 7:47AM