Construction of Low-Cracking High-Performance Bridge Decks Incorporating New Technology Phase II

Bridge decks constructed using low-cracking high-performance concrete (LC-HPC) have performed exceedingly well when compared with bridge decks constructed using conventional procedures. The original LC-HPC decks were constructed using 100% portland cement concretes with low cement paste contents, lower concrete slumps, controlled concrete temperature, minimum finishing, and the early initiation of extended curing. Methods to further minimize cracking, however, such as internal curing in conjunction with selected supplementary cementitious materials, shrinkage-reducing admixtures, shrinkage-compensating admixtures, and fibers have recently been applied in conjunction with the LC-HPC approach to bridge-deck construction with good results. Laboratory research and field applications have demonstrated that the use of three new technologies, (1) internal curing provided through the use of pre-wetted, fine lightweight aggregate in combination with slag cement and fly ash, with or without small quantities of silica fume, (2) shrinkage compensating admixtures, and (3) steel and synthetic fibers can reduce cracking below values obtained using current LC-HPC specifications. The goal of this project to apply these technologies to new bridge deck construction and establish their effectiveness in practice. State departments of transportation expend significant effort and resources on the construction of durable reinforced concrete bridges and bridge decks. Existing data show that the modifications to construction procedures, materials, and design details used in LC-HPC bridge deck construction, without and with the newer technologies, significantly reduce the degree of cracking and, thus, reduce exposure of reinforcing steel to the corrosive effects of deicing chemicals, decrease freeze-thaw damage, and improve deck performance under all environmental conditions. The project will combine knowledge from research and practice to develop a comprehensive strategy for the construction of low-cracking bridge decks. If successful, the result will lead to an improvement in durability and an increase in the useful life of bridges.

• Record URL:
  http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/645

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Programmed
• Funding: $390000
• Contract Numbers:

  TPF-5(392)

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Kansas Department of Transportation

  Eisenhower State Office Building
  700 SW Harrison Street
  Topeka, KS  United States  66603-3754

  Minnesota Department of Transportation

  Transportation Building
  395 John Ireland Boulevard
  St Paul, MN  United States  55155
• Managing Organizations:

  Kansas Department of Transportation

  Eisenhower State Office Building
  700 SW Harrison Street
  Topeka, KS  United States  66603-3754
• Project Managers:

  Behzadpour, David

• Start Date: 20190901
• Expected Completion Date: 20231231
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Bridge decks; Cracking; High performance concrete
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01901163
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Contract Numbers: TPF-5(392)
• Files: RIP
• Created Date: Dec 1 2023 4:46AM