BITUMINOUS-FIBERGLASS BRIDGE DECK MEMBRANES UNDER ASPHALT CONCRETE OVERLAYS

IN THE EARLY 1950'S CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW YORK THRUWAY FOLLOWED THE PRACTICE OF USING SIMPLE-SPAN, COMPOSITE I-BEAM BRIDGE DECK DESIGN, THE DECK BEING COMPOSED OF A 7-INCH STRUCTURAL CONCRETE SLAB OVERLAID BY A 4-INCH PCC WEARING SURFACE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE STRUCTURAL SLAB. IT WAS SOON OBSERVED THAT A SPACE OF UP TO 0.25 INCH EXISTED BETWEEN THE TWO COURSES, ALLOWING THE WEARING COURSE TO ACT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE STRUCTURAL SLAB AND RESULTING, UNDER CERTAIN MOISTURE--TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, IN WARPING AND CRACKING OF THE WEARING COURSE. THE USE OF DEICING SALTS ACCELERATED DETERIORATION, AS THEY ENTERED THE CRACKS IN THE WEARING COURSE IN THE FORM OF BRINE AND COLLECTED AT THE INTERFACE OF THE TWO SLABS. N.Y. STATE PRACTICE IN CORRECTING THE PROBLEM IN THE EARLY 1960'S IS DESCRIBED. IN THE MEANTIME, THE STATE D. O. T. REPLACED THE PCC SLAB WITH ASPHALTIC CONCRETE, AND IN 1965 IT WAS DECIDED TO PLACE A FIBERGLASS MEMBRANE BETWEEN THE STRUCTURAL SLAB AND THE WEARING COURSE IN NEW-CONSTRUCTION BRIDGE DECKS. AT THE BEGINNING OF 1970 THE TECHNIQUE WAS INTRODUCED INTO CONTRACT REHABILITATION WORK HAVING TO DO WITH REPLACEMENT OF BRIDGE DECK WEARING SLABS. THE PROCEDURE IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL, TYPICAL COSTS ARE CITED, AND THE BENEFITS IN BRIDGE DECK DURABILITY ARE INDICATED. WORK HAS JUST BEGUN ON THE USE OF EPOXY AS A SEALER OF STRUCTURAL SLABS PRIOR TO OVERLAY APPLICATION.

• Authors:
  • Thomas, J J
• Publication Date: 1970-4

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Intl Bridge Tunnel & Turnpike Assoc

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt concrete; Bridge decks; Composite materials; Concrete; Costs; Deicers (Equipment); Deterioration; Durability; Epoxides; Fiberglass; Fracture mechanics; Portland cement concrete; Sealing compounds; Slabs; Warpage; Wearing course (Pavements)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Deicers; Membranes; Warping
• Old TRIS Terms: Epoxy; Membranes (Biology)
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218841
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: pp 5-9
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 10 1971 12:00AM