Bond Characteristics and Experimental Behavior of Textured Epoxy-coated Rebars Used in Concrete Bridge Decks

The deterioration of bridge decks is a problem typically associated with the corrosion of the reinforcing steel. This issue was partially controlled during the 1970s with the incorporation of the epoxy-coating protection system. However, research later demonstrated that the smooth surface resulting from the epoxy-coating application reduces most of the friction between the rebar and the surrounding concrete. Consequently, forces acting on the rib faces are reconfigured in such a way that the radial components increase, triggering the early development of cracks. To mitigate both the reduction of bonding and the formation of cracks, the Illinois Department of Transportation proposed a new type of coated bars: textured epoxy-coated (TEC) bars. Over the last few years, different projects have been executed to understand and improve the characteristics of TEC rebars. This report is a continuation of research performed at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to evaluate the bond behavior of TEC bars. The experimental program starts by characterizing, qualitatively and quantitatively, the roughness of the TEC rebars. Next, their bond-slip interaction embedded in concrete is evaluated through pull-out tests. Finite element models of these tests are developed to validate the behavior observed as the textured reinforcement loses anchorage with concrete. Based on these results, the experimental program then aims to study the impact of the drying shrinkage, temperature change, and flexural demands on two large-scale bridge deck specimens reinforced, individually, with TEC and standard epoxy-coated bars. The results collected from both specimens using digital image correlation and strain gauges are compared to explore the differences exhibited by the traditional and the new type of reinforcement coatings in terms of stress distribution in bridge decks. Finally, given the specialized equipment and time-consuming procedure needed to calculate the roughness parameters of TEC bars, an empirical, weight-based approach is developed as a rapid method for assessing the rebars’ roughness on-site.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.36501/0197-9191/22-001
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01979191
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  Illinois Center for Transportation
  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Urbana, IL  United States  61801

  Illinois Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Research
  Springfield, IL  United States 

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Andrawes, Bassem
  • 0000-0002-8954-3751
  • Claros, Ernesto Alfredo Perez
  • Zhang, Zige
  • 0000-0002-1439-0009
• Publication Date: 2022-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 116p
• Serial:
  • Civil Engineering Studies, Illinois Center for Transportation Series
  • Issue Number: 22-001
  • Publisher: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
  • ISSN: 0197-9191

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bond strength (Materials); Bridge decks; Concrete bridges; Epoxy coatings; Reinforcing bars; Roughness
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01833334
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-ICT-22-001, UILU-2022-2001, ICT-22-001
• Contract Numbers: R27-197
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 21 2022 4:47PM