Developing Performance Specification for High Performance Concrete

In the past, achieving high strength was considered by TxDOT as the main design criteria to formulate high performance concrete. TxDOT considers mix design options 1-4 in item 421 as high performance concrete (HPC) and these options were developed for ASR mitigation and not for other durability aspects. Very little work has been done to determine if these options are adequate to provide long-term durability often needed when HPC is specified. The main objective of this study is to develop performance specification for high performance concrete in order to ensure high performance in terms of durability. The researcher team will conduct a combination of both field investigation and laboratory study in order to achieve this objective. The researcher team will use both conventional and innovative new lab testing methods to determine the key performance characteristics (i.e., prescribing acceptable limits of permeability, shrinkage, surface resistivity, and chloride ingress - basis for developing performance specification) followed by developing specific prescriptive requirements in order to formulate wide varieties of prescriptive mixes that can meet the durability requirements matching with different exposure conditions. A combined approach of relating mix design parameters, lab based durability test results, mechanical properties, structural dimensions, climatic conditions, and / exposure conditions through suitable service life prediction model and predicting will be used to ensure long term durability (at least 75 years) for the HPCs in typical aggressive environments. This will lead to develop performance- and prescriptive-based concrete specifications for HPC. This could potentially encourage contractors to effectively use these fine-tuned prescriptive HPC mixtures without the need of conducing additional long duration testing and ensure making long lasting durable concrete and save tax payers dollars.

• Record URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/project=6958

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $1,142,586
• Contract Numbers:

  0-6958

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Texas Department of Transportation

  125 E. 11th Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78701-2483
• Project Managers:

  Schwerdt, Tom

• Performing Organizations:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135
• Principal Investigators:

  Mukhopadhyay, Anol

• Start Date: 20170901
• Expected Completion Date: 20240430
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Field studies; High performance concrete; Laboratory studies; Mechanical properties; Multiple criteria decision making; Performance based specifications; Physical properties
• Subject Areas: Design; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01648623
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 0-6958
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 20 2017 11:37AM