Reduce Concrete Cracking through Mix Design

Concrete cracking affects the long-term condition and performance of both bridge and culvert structures. Shrinkage cracking is perceived to be a deterrent to placing exposed decks/slabs during bridge and culvert rehabilitation and replacement projects. Concrete cracking during bridge construction allows oxygen, moisture and salts into the structure accelerating corrosion and deterioration. Understanding methods to avoiding cracking at the mix design level will allow exposed decks to be more often considered as a viable option. This is especially critical as more rapid bridge projects are proposed. Different construction and specification methods have been previously explored to reduce concrete cracking at bridge curb locations. This research will explore alternates to current mix design practice including lightweight concrete, changes to PCC and pozzolan content, etc., to reduce concrete cracking. Stand alone, off structure concrete placement like sidewalks, concrete slabs, etc., could be used as test areas for observation. The NHDOT Bureau of Bridge Maintenance will work with the researchers at those locations as well as considering placement in bureau projects.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $165,000
• Contract Numbers:

  42372M

• Sponsor Organizations:

  New Hampshire Department of Transportation

  John O. Morton Building
  P.O. Box 483
  Concord, NH  United States  03302-0483
• Managing Organizations:

  New Hampshire Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Research
  Box 483, 5 Hazen Drive
  Concord, NH  United States  03302-0483
• Project Managers:

  Nash, Deirdre

• Performing Organizations:

  University of New Hampshire, Durham

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Durham, NH  United States  03824
• Principal Investigators:

  Dave, Eshan

• Start Date: 20230101
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Maintenance practices; Reinforced concrete; Reinforced concrete bridges
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01867109
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 42372M
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 13 2022 3:23PM