Quality control of precast concrete products - a road owner’s perspective

Abstract

Precast concrete components make up a significant portion of the road network infrastructure. In Queensland alone several billion dollars have been invested in various precast concrete products such as bridge girders, piles, culverts, pipes, retaining walls and noise barriers. However, unlike structures built for other industries, bridge and road infrastructure is required to provide a relatively long service life of a hundred years or more. The in-service maintenance of bridges can also be difficult and expensive, involving significant costs and inconvenience to the community, particularly if road closures are involved.So how can road authorities ensure the quality and long-term performance of precast concrete components in today’s price-driven market place? What effect do price-based purchasing policies, increased reliance on quality assurance systems, use of non-standard designs, global trading and inspection have on the quality of high-end precast products?This paper gives an overview of the effects of current policies and market trends, discusses recent problems in Queensland and outlines what Main Roads is doing to ensure high quality and longterm performance of precast concrete products.