EFFECT OF WATER INFILTRATION OF PENETRATING CRACKS ON DETERIORATION OF BRIDGE DECK SLABS

The deterioration of bridge decks is a serious maintenance problem in Japan, but deterioration in Japan is different from that in the United States because all bridge decks in Japan are covered with an asphalt overlay about 7.5 cm thick. Deterioration to a depth of about 18 cm has been found in decks that were seldom treated with deicing salts. These decks exhibited partial depression and fall-off, not scaling or spalling. Fatigue tests of model slabs and field surveys of bridges were carried out to determine the mechanism of deterioration, investigate methods of repair, and evaluate existing bridge decks. A test specimen, faultily constructed and severely cracked in the laboratory, deteriorated rapidly due to water infiltration of cracks, leakage through cracks, and abrasive action caused by crack movement under repeated loading. The fatigue strength of this specimen was about one-third its static strength, which is remarkably low compared with the normal fatigue strength of reinforced concrete. The mechanism of deterioration of bridge decks is thought to be a combination of three conditions: break-out of penetrating cracks caused by faulty construction and drying shrinkage, infiltration and leakage of rainwater, and abrasion due to wheel loading. Experimental work on an actual bridge showed expansive concrete to be effective in preventing break-out of shrinkage cracks.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/950/950v1-031.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EFFECT+OF+WATER+INFILTRATION+OF+PENETRATING+CRACKS+ON+DETERIORATION+OF+BRIDGE+DECK+SLABS&author=T.+Kato&author=Y.+Goto&publication_year=1984
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record Number 950, Volume 1, Second Bridge Engineering Conference conducted by the Transportation Research Board and the Federal Highway Administration, September 24-26, 1984. Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Structures Maintenance. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Kato, Takeaki
  • Goto, Yuji
• Conference:
  • Bridge Engineering Conference, 2nd, 1984, Washington, DC, USA
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 202-209
• Monograph Title: Second bridge engineering conference. volumes 1 and 2
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 950
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accelerated tests; Bituminous overlays; Bridge decks; Cracking; Deterioration; Expansive concrete; Fatigue tests; Leakage; Pendulum tests; Repairing; Repeated loads; Shrinkage; Slabs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Repairs
• Old TRIS Terms: Expasive concrete; Shrinkage cracks; Water entry
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390868
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 03090036593
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 30 1984 12:00AM