Abstract
The application of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) materials in rehabilitating bridges and constructing primary bridge components is increasing rapidly across the world because of their superior strength and durability characteristics when compared to regular concretes. However, there have been few new bridges constructed using UHPC materials with regular formworks, ready-mix trucks, and construction equipment. This paper presents a comprehensive report encompassing the design, construction, and performance monitoring of a new bridge constructed in Iowa using a unique UHPC technology that includes steel fibers of two different lengths embedded in the concrete. By using optimized lengths of steel fibers, both the tensile strength and the toughness were increased. The UHPC material was produced with local cement and aggregates in the US using typical ready-mix concrete equipment. This paper discusses the experience gained from the design and construction process including mix design, batching, delivery of steel fibers to the ready-mix concrete batch unit, and post-tensioning of precast slabs at the jobsite. For four years after construction, the joints of the bridge decks were monitored using strain sensors mounted on both sides of the deck joints. The strain values were quite similar between the two sides of each joint, indicating a good load transfer between precast bridge girders. A bridge was successfully constructed using a unique UHPC technology incorporating two different lengths of steel fibers and utilizing local cement and aggregates and a ready-mix truck, and has been performing satisfactorily with a good load transfer across post-tensioned precast girder joints.
Highlights
Concrete is the most commonly used building material in the world
The proposed Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC)’s significantly higher strength allows for the use of a slender member with smaller cross-sections and with a longer service life, which will reduce the amount of CO2 emissions associated with building concrete bridges [2]
In the 1990s, UHPC was introduced in France and the first
Summary
4.1 billion tons of cement were used in 2019, contributing approximately 7% of global CO2 emissions, assuming 0.9 pounds of CO2 generated for the manufacturing of 1 pound of cement [1]. In the 1980s, High-Performance Concretes (HPCs) were developed, with significantly improved durability and compressive strengths ranging from 48 to 117 MPa [3]. UHPC pedestrian bridge, with a span of 60 m, was built in Quebec, Canada [4]. Infrastructures 2021, 6, 121 and the first UHPC pedestrian bridge, with a span of 60 m, was built in Quebec, Canada [4]. UHPC typically exhibits a compressive strength low water/cement ratio of around 0.25. Thispaper paperpresents presentsthe thelaboratory laboratorytest testresults, results,design, design,construction, construction,and andmonitoring monitoring. This of a new bridge using a unique technology which utilizes two different lengthsof of of a new bridge using a unique UHPC technology which utilizes two different lengths steel fibers, 16.3 mm and.
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