Bridge Deck Overlays Research Articles

Investigation of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete for Use in Transportation Structures

Results are presented of a laboratory investigation to determine the properties of fiber-reinforced concretes (FRCs) with steel (hooked-end), polypropylene (monofilament and fibrillated), and the recently introduced polyolefin fibers (monofilament) for application in pavements and bridge deck overlays. Concrete properties in the unhardened and hardened states were evaluated and compared. Although the ultimate splitting tensile strength, compressive strength, and first-crack strength were higher in most of the FRCs, when strength values were adjusted for changes in air content, only a few batches had higher strengths. The addition of fibers resulted in great improvements in flexural toughness and impact resistance. Three FRC pavement overlays were applied in Virginia in 1995. The FRCs used in the projects were similar to those used in the laboratory investigation, with similar fiber volumes, types, and sizes. To implement the findings of the study successfully, the performance of the FRC pavement overlays is being monitored.

Use of Conventional and High-Performance Steel-Fiber Reinforced Concrete for Bridge Deck Overlays

Cost-effective long-term solutions for the current problem of the deteriorated national infrastructure are critical for the future economic growth and competitiveness of the United States economy in the 21st century. One of the most important issues is the repair and retrofitting of concrete bridge decks. Deck overlays are commonly used for recovering and improving the serviceability and durability of bridge decks. This paper presents cement-based composites that offer long-term solutions to bridge deck problems: high-performance (steel) fiber reinforced concretes (HPFRCs), and improved conventional steel-fiber reinforced concretes (FRCs). Improved FRCs, and in particular revolutionary new HPFRCs, display superior strength, toughness, fatigue and impact resistance, crack control, impermeability, and durability over conventional cement composites. Thus, they are ideally suited for the construction of durable and cost-effective thin-bonded bridge deck overlays. This paper reviews successful pilot projects and presents recommendations for the design and construction of these high-performance overlay systems.

Determination of Water Content of Fresh Concrete Using a Microwave Oven

Abstract As part of the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) contract, Optimization of Highway Concrete Technology, a microwave-oven method for measuring water content of as-delivered fresh concrete was evaluated. Water contents of a series of concrete mixes prepared in the laboratory were gravimetrically determined by drying the concrete in a microwave oven and comparing these measurements with water contents used for making these mixes. A relatively high-power microwave (900 W) equipped with a turntable to provide uniform drying was used. Mixes used in the study included conventional concrete mixes with three types of aggregates with low, moderate, and high water absorptions and mixes with silica fume, fly ash and latex. Field ruggedness of the procedure was verified by testing under actual field conditions at placements of bridge deck overlays and full-depth pavement repair sections. Test results showed that this technique is sufficiently reproducible for purposes of field control and is independent of absorption of aggregates or consistency of concrete. The test is quite simple and does not require a skilled operator. The total test time is 16 min, including time for sample manipulation and check-weighing twice during the drying process. The method can be applied to latex-modified and silica-fume concretes, as well as more conventional mixes.

Asphalt Portland Cement Concrete Composite: Laboratory Evaluation

The lack of strain characteristics of rigid pavements and bridge deck overlays and the susceptibility of flexible pavements and hot‐mix asphalt overlays to abrasion wear, fuel spillage, and stripping suggests the search for a material that possesses the unique properties of both Portland cement concrete and hot‐mix asphalt such as asphalt‐Portland cement concrete composite (APCCC). APCCC is a hot‐mix asphalt with a high air void content (25–30%) filled with resin‐modified cement grout. The grout consists of Portland cement, fly ash, sand, water, and Prosalvia admixture. The resulting concrete has the properties of both flexible and rigid concrete. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the performance of APCCC under control conditions. The program included the following tests: stability, indirect tensile strength, compressive strength, resilient modulus, water sensitivity, freezing and thawing, and chloride intrusion resistance. The tests were performed at three levels of moist curing: no moist curing, one‐day moist curing, and three‐day moist curing. APCCC specimens were tested over a period of 28 days. The results were compared to those of hot‐mix asphalt and Portland cement concrete control specimens. The study concluded that APCCC strength and durability properties are better than those of hot‐mix asphalt. The chloride intrusion into APCCC specimens was found to be less than that into normal Portland cement concrete. The study shows that APCCC is an effective alternative material to be used as a bridge deck overlay.

Nonlinear analytical RC-models for the development of bridge deck overlay design criteria

Nonlinear analytical models for the characterization of realistic structural systems performance at various limit states are rarely used as design tools in the structural engineering profession. Only projects of special importance or magnitude are supported by nonlinear structural analysis in the final design verification phase or subsequent to damage or failure cases. However, the underused nonlinear analytical capabilities find another important field of application in the development of general design guidelines since they allow a large number of parametric studies on the actual structural systems behaviour, once such a nonlinear analytical model has been properly verified and calibrated. The following paper covers the application of a nonlinear reinforced concrete model to develop design criteria for interface dowels in horizontal construction joints of full depth structural concrete bridge deck overlays. The analytical code development, the model verification process, the subsequent parameter studies and the resulting design criteria are described. Particularly, the critical dowel reinforcement ratio, which is required to ensure monolithic flexural action in the overlaid bridge deck, can be clearly established using the described nonlinear reinforced concrete model with interlayer slip. The influence of skew geometry on the possible delamination propagation and load-deflection behaviour of overlaid reinforced concrete plates is also evaluated.

Analysis and Design Models for Structural Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays

The horizontal loadtransfer behavior of fulldepth structural concrete overlays used in bridge deck rehabilitation is investigated with a specially developed analytical model and compared with test ...

Performance and Service Life of Low-Slump-Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays in New York State

Abstract Fifty randomly selected concrete bridge decks in New York State, overlaid with low-slump concrete, were studied in 1985 after 5 years of service. The study included recording surface defects, measuring delamination and half-cell potentials, and sampling and testing for deck chloride profile. Conclusions are drawn about the nature and significance of the observed damage, and estimates are made of service life expectancy. Policy implications for the New York State Department of Transportation are discussed.