TRC1902 - Capillary Pressure Sensor Testing to Identify Curing Regimen in Freshly Placed Bridge Decks

The overall performance of concrete in bridge decks can be affected by the curing regimen. With the advent of new testing equipment for freshly placed concrete, Capillary Pressure Sensor System (CPSS), the evaporation effects can be measured. By measuring the capillary pressure during the initial set period after finishing, shrinkage cracks can be avoided by adding moisture and/or curing compound to the concrete surface when the alarm is triggered by threshold pressure limit. Additional curing compound and/or moisture can be added to reduce or mitigate the effects of the evaporation. This project would use the CPSS to evaluate the different curing regimens the contractor uses and determine which product and/or method works best. This project aims to investigate the use of a CPSS to monitor the development of capillary pressures in the surface of fresh concrete bridge decks. This capillary pressure can be used to determine if plastic shrinkage cracking is likely to occur and alert the user when moisture should be added to the surface to prevent cracking. The sensor will be tested in the lab to verify its ability to measure plastic shrinkage pressures, then lab testing will be performed to compare curing techniques. A field study will help determine if the sensor is useful in practice to ARDOT and to contractors. With the success of the sensors, training workshops can be developed for sensor usage for ARDOT employees and contractors.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $124861
• Contract Numbers:

  TRC1902

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Arkansas Department of Transportation

  P.O. Box 2261
  Little Rock, AR  United States  72203
• Project Managers:

  Phillips, Patrick

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

  4190 Bell Engineering
  Civil Engineering
  Fayetteville, Arkansas  United States  72701
• Principal Investigators:

  Murray, Cameron

• Start Date: 20180725
• Expected Completion Date: 20200930
• Actual Completion Date: 20210131

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Concrete curing; Cracking; Evaporation; Field studies; Fresh concrete; Laboratory tests; Pressure; Sensors; Shrinkage
• Geographic Terms: Arkansas
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01698872
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Arkansas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: TRC1902
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 14 2019 3:31PM