Abstract
Prefabricated concrete bridge deck panels are utilized in Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) to simplify bridge deck construction. Concrete with good bond and shear strength as well as excellent flowability is required to fill bridge deck closure joints. This paper discusses the use of polymer concrete (PC) for bridge deck closure joints in ABC. PC produced using poly methyl methacrylate and standard aggregate was tested. Test results of PC are compared to Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC). Development length, lap splice length and shear strength of unreinforced PC were tested. It is shown that PC has a development length of 3.6 to 4.1 times the reinforcing bar diameter that is close to one-half the development length of 6 to 8 times the bar diameter required with UHPC. PC also showed a shorter splice length compared with that reported for UHPC. Finally, unreinforced PC showed shear strength that is twice that of UHPC. It is evident that using PC in bridge deck closure joints in ABC can improve constructability and provide cost-savings and eliminate reinforcing bar congestion.
Highlights
Accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques have become more common worldwide to meet the growing construction demand and the need to shorten construction time
The required development length for steel bars embedded in normal concrete common compressive strength is at least 24 times the steel bar diameter according to American Concrete Institute (ACI) [2] or at least 18 times the steel bar diameter according to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) [3]
Researchers have suggested using Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) for its high performance including high bond strength with steel reinforcing bars and much-improved durability compared with normal concrete [4,5,6]
Summary
Accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques have become more common worldwide to meet the growing construction demand and the need to shorten construction time. A major challenge in closure joints is the inadequate development of the steel reinforcing bars which are spliced at the closure joint between two adjacent panels. The required development length for steel bars embedded in normal concrete common compressive strength is at least 24 times the steel bar diameter according to American Concrete Institute (ACI) [2] or at least 18 times the steel bar diameter according to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) [3]. Cast-in-place concrete with a relatively high bond strength to prefabricated concrete surface and steel reinforcing bars is required. Researchers have suggested using Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) for its high performance including high bond strength with steel reinforcing bars and much-improved durability compared with normal concrete [4,5,6]. ThTishipsappaepreirnivnevsetsitgigaatetessththeeppootteennttiiaall uusseeooffppoolylymmeeththyyl ml metehtahcarcyrlyatleat(ePM(PMMAM)Apo) lpyomlyemr ceornccorentcerete dedneonteodtehdehreeraesaPs MPMMMAA-P-PCCaassaafifilllliinngg mmaatteerriiaallffoorrAABBCCcclolosusurerejojionitns.tsT.hTehleowlovwisvcoisscitoysiotfyPoMf PMMAM, A, easeeasoef mofixminixgi,nagn, danredlarteilvaetilvyehlyighhigwhowrkoarbkialibtyiliotyf PoMf PMMAM-PAC-PaCreakreeykfeeyatfueraetsurfoesr iftosruistse ufosreAfoBrCAcBloCsure joincltoss.uHreerjeo,inthtse. mHienriem, uthme dmeivneilmopummendtevleenlogpthmoenf tstleeenlgrtehinofof rscteemelenretiwnfhorecnemspelnictedwhinenPMspMlicAe-dPCin, lap sthpolPcisocMemeMolpefaAnUrg-ePHtdhCPw,bClieatthrpwetsphepoeolrinscteeebdolaefrinUnsgiHttnhhPsebiCdelietrtweePpreMaoetrnuMtebrdeAa.ri-snPiCtnhs,eiadlnietdePrMsahtMueraAer.-sPtrCe,nagntdhsahreeadr esttreernmgitnheadreadnedtecromminpeadreadndwith
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