Fiber Reinforced Concrete for Bridge Deck Overlays

This report reviews available research literature and reports on Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) mixtures to recognize best practices of using FRC overlay mixtures and identify products with the potential of being successfully utilized in Missouri. State Department of Transportation (DOT) representatives were surveyed to consolidate the current state of practice as it relates to the use of FRC, particularly for bridge decks. The survey shows that there are a variety of approaches and implementation methods from coast to coast. Also reported are the findings of a laboratory program involving evaluation of twelve fibers, representing a broad spectrum of available fiber types. Each fiber was intermixed into a representative concrete mixture at three different dosages to evaluate the performance of the recommended range. Testing was carried out for standard physical strength metrics, durability performance, and specialized FRC toughness. Additionally, the impact of fibers on restrained shrinkage cracking and tensile bond strength of FRC was evaluated. Results indicated that fibers can be introduced to concrete mixtures to obtain workable mixtures with little change to the underlying concrete mixture proportions. A generalized trend could not be established between fiber characteristics and mechanical or durability properties. Good correlation was observed between flexural toughness and fiber dosage. A noticeable difference was documented between the performance of synthetic and steel fibers when subjected to the ASTM C1609 test. The ASTM C1550 test indicated varying behaviors at different prescribed deflection levels. Restrained shrinkage testing showed the lower dosages recommended showed little improvement over the non-FRC control mixture; higher fiber dosages showed improvements in resistance to restrained shrinkage cracking. Many concerns regarding the inclusion of fibers in concrete were overcome and, if eliminated, FRC can result in mixtures with similar strength and durability characteristics to traditional non-FRC concrete with improved crack resistance. These are ideal characteristics of an overlay concrete that needs to be compliant with the underlying concrete while not reflecting through any existing cracks to prolong the life of the underlying structural concrete.

• Record URL:
  https://spexternal.modot.mo.gov/sites/cm/CORDT/cmr23-003.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/66993
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report date January 2023, published February 2023.
• Corporate Authors:

  Construction Technology Laboratories, Inc.

  5400 Old Orchard Road
  Skokie, IL  United States  60077-1030

  Missouri Department of Transportation

  Construction and Materials Division
  Jefferson City, MO  United States  65102

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Amini, Kamran
  • Vaddey, Pavan
  • Birch, Benjamin F
  • Corr, David
• Publication Date: 2023-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 106p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Bridge decks; Durability; Fiber reinforced concrete; Mix design; Overlays (Pavements)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01878779
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: cmr 23-003
• Contract Numbers: MoDOT project # TR202113
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 10 2023 11:45AM