Development and application of a highly durable precast prestressed concrete slab deck using fly ash concrete

Abstract

In the Hokuriku district of Japan, alkali-silica reaction (ASR), salt damage, frost damage, and other problems of premature deterioration have caused severe degradation in many road bridge decks, and the use of fly ash concrete as a rational suppression measure is being standardised. This work outlines the actual situation of complex degradation by ASR and salt damage of road bridge reinforced concrete slab in the Hokuriku district and introduces the history of the research and development of high-durability precast prestressed concrete (PCa PC) slab deck using fly ash concrete and examples of social implementation in this region. Moreover, full-size PCa PC slab specimens with and without fly ash content are constructed and subjected to both bending and pushing shear loading tests to investigate the differences in their bending and punching shear resistance. Numerical models are then developed using finite element method to evaluate the experimental results. Analyses elicited good agreement between simulations and experimental data and validated the numerical models. Based on the obtained results, this study clarified the mechanical properties of PCa PC slab using fly ash concrete, and then its practical use in the renewal project of highway was discussed.