Crack Surveys of Low-Cracking High-Performance Concrete Bridge Decks in Kansas 2014-2015

Abstract

Crack surveys were performed on Low-Cracking High-Performance Concrete (LC-HPC) and Control bridge decks as a continuation of the Construction of Crack-Free Concrete Bridge Decks research project. The specifications for LC-HPC and procedures for performing crack surveys are summarized. Sixteen LC-HPC bridge decks and thirteen control bridge decks are included in this study. The first 13 LC-HPC bridge decks are compared to their control decks in terms of crack density as a function of time. The crack densities for the three LC-HPC decks without control decks are also presented. An initial analysis on crack widths was performed on selected decks with widths rangeing from 0.006 to 0.025 in. (0.15 to 0.64 mm). Twelve out of thirteen LC-HPC decks exhibit lower crack densities than their control decks. For the bridge decks surveyed in this study, the majority of the cracks are transverse and run parallel to the top layer of the deck’s reinforcement. Relatively short cracks are present near the abutments and propagate perpendicular to the abutments (longitudinally). In some decks, longitudnial cracks were observed away from the bridge abutments, as well.