INSULATION OF BRIDGE DECKS FOR ICE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF FREEZE-THAW CYCLES

A DISCUSSION IS CONDUCTED ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INSULATING A BRIDGE DECK FOR ICE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF FREEZE-THAW CYCLES. THE SITE SELECTED FOR THIS STUDY WAS THE TWIN STRUCTURES WHICH CARRY U.S. HIGHWAY 287 OVER THE FORT WORTH AND DENVER RAILROAD IN WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS. THE WEST STRUCTURE WAS INSULATED WITH SPRAYED URETHANE FOAM 3/4-INCH THICK FOR THE SOUTH HALF AND 1 1/4-INCH THICK FOR THE NORTH HALF. THE ADJACENT STRUCTURE WAS NOT INSULATED AND SERVES AS THE CONTROL STRUCTURE. TEMPERATURE DATA WERE COLLECTED AND ANALYZED FOR VARIOUS LOCATIONS WITHIN THE BRIDGE SLABS. RESULTS OF THIS ANALYSIS SHOW THAT THERE WAS NO REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF FREEZE-THAW CYCLES BECAUSE OF THE INSULATION. HOWEVER, THE AVERAGE FREEZE-THAW CYCLE LENGTH FOR THE TOP SURFACE OF THE INSULATED SLAB BETWEEN I-BEAMS WAS APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS SHORTER THAN THE CYCLE LENGTH FOR THE UNINSULATED SLAB. /AUTHOR/

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • No 62-1f, 69 PP, 21 FIG, 3 TAB, 1 APP
  • Corporate Authors:

    Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transp

    Bridge Division, 11th and Brazos Streets
    Austin, TX  United States  78701

    Department of Transportation

    1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
    Washington, DC  United States  20590

    Federal Highway Administration

    1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
    Washington, DC  United States  20590

    Bureau of Public Roads /US

    400 7th Street, SW
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Authors:
    • Butler, H D
  • Publication Date: 1966-2

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00208376
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Jan 24 1994 12:00AM