Use of Innovative Concrete Mixes for Improved Constructability and Sustainability of Bridge Decks 2010-2011

Abstract

Bridge deck crack surveys were performed on twelve bridges on US-59 to determine the effects of mixture proportions, deck type, and girder types on the crack density of reinforced concrete bridge decks. Of the twelve, eight have prestressed concrete girders and four have steel girders. Four of the decks with prestressed girders have partial-depth precast deck panels, two are monolithic, and two have overlays. Of the four decks with steel girders, two have overlays and two are monolithic. The surveys were performed, crack maps were analyzed, and cracking trends were observed. The results for the US-59 bridge decks were compared with crack densities obtained in a study of low-cracking high-performance concrete (LC-HPC) bridge decks in Kansas. The monolithic concrete bridge decks supported by prestressed concrete girders within this study exhibit less cracking than decks supported by steel girders in the first three years. At an age of approximately three years, the US-59 monolithic decks on prestressed girders with deck panels are not displaying significant cracking at the joints of the panels. The US-59 decks supported by prestressed girders without overlays exhibit significantly less cracking than the decks on prestressed girders with overlays. No benefits of using fibers in either the overlay or in the deck have been observed in this study.