Field Testing of a Prestressed Concrete Bridge With High Performance and Locally Developed Ultra-High Performance Concrete Girders

Turki S Alahmari,Chris S Kennedy,David V Jáuregui,Brad D Weldon,Alain M Cuaron

doi:10.3389/fbuil.2019.00114

Abstract

Recent research has developed mixture proportions for ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) using materials primary local to New Mexico, United States of America (USA). In 2017, a two-span bridge was constructed in Anthony, New Mexico, USA consisting of prestressed girders using the locally developed non-proprietary UHPC, for span one, and high performance concrete (HPC), for the second span. Field tests were conducted on the bridge approximately nine months apart to investigate the performance and behavior of the UHPC and provide baseline data for future studies and condition evaluation of the bridge. The load tests consisted of various load configurations utilizing up to four trucks weighing 267 kN on average. The load paths were designed to maximize strains along the length of the bridge and investigate transverse load distributions between girders. The measured results provide a comparison of the behavior and performance of the UHPC and the HPC girders and were also compared to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) predicted behaviors. This study is one of the first that compares HPC and nonproprietary UHPC bridge performance subjected to the same environmental conditions and vehicular loading. The findings of the study will aid in the development of recommendations incorporating UHPC into design provisions as well as provide meaningful information of the short and long-term performance between the two materials including durability and load distribution.

Highlights

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is an increasingly utilized material that provides high compressive strengths and advanced durability properties
Proprietary UHPC mixture proportions are currently available in the United States of America (USA), the lack of standardized domestic design specifications and high material costs have limited the widespread use of UHPC
This paper presents the results of the stage 1 and stage 2 load tests conducted on the bridge and compares the responses between the UHPC and HPC spans

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is an increasingly utilized material that provides high compressive strengths and advanced durability properties. Non-proprietary UHPC mixture proportions utilizing unique mixing procedures, curing regimens, and materials typical of precast production and primarily local to New Mexico (NM) have been developed. Based on the results of an extensive research program, the design and construction of the first non-proprietary UHPC bridge in New Mexico were successfully completed in 2017. The bridge is a two-span structure and is fabricated with non-proprietary UHPC (145 MPa) girders for span 1, and conventional high performance concrete (HPC, 65.5 MPa) girders, typical of bridge construction in New Mexico, for span 2. This paper presents the results of the stage 1 and stage 2 load tests conducted on the bridge and compares the responses between the UHPC and HPC spans. The measured response of the bridge is compared to the design-based estimated behavior

BACKGROUND

CONCLUSIONS

Findings

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT