FACTORS AFFECTING THE DURABILITY OF CONCRETE BRIDGE DECKS: SUMMARY

With the objective of determining factors which contribute to cracking of concrete bridge decks, projects were undertaken to explore the effects of different concrete strike off machines, effects of different timing of application of finish floating and texturing, effects of different methods and timing of concrete curing, and effects of different water contents in the concrete. Variations in the amount and location of the top layer of deck longitudinal reinforcing steel were investigated. Reinforcement placing and support techniques resulting in a flexible mat were compared to those resulting in a rigid mat. Flexible forms, absorbent forms, and forms with large gaps were compared with tight, rigid forms. Effects of air entrainment and a water reducing agent were investigated. The effects of thickening decks were studied, as were the advantages of using shrinkage compensated cement in the deck concrete. The effects of traffic were evaluated. Effects on the quality of the decks were related to abrasion loss of the deck surfaces, the friction factor of the deck surfaces, and the amount of cracking which developed in the decks. A crack index was developed to permit numerical comparisons of cracking between the various decks studied. The planned variables had little or no effect on abrasion loss or friction factor. Deck cracking was affected more by timing and quality of cure than by any other variable. (FHWA)

• Corporate Authors:

  California Department of Transportation

  Division of Transportation Facilities Design, 1120 N Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Poppe, J B
• Publication Date: 1981-1

Media Info

• Pagination: n.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abrasions; Air entrainment; Bridge decks; Concrete; Concrete bridges; Concrete curing; Durability; Fracture mechanics; Moisture content; Reinforcing steel; Shrinkage; Texture; Traffic; Water reducing agents
• Old TRIS Terms: Concrete shrinkage
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways; Materials; Operations and Traffic Management; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I32: Concrete; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00349482
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-CA-SD-81-2 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: F66SD06
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1982 12:00AM