Issues with Reflective Deck Cracks in Side-by-Side Box Beam Bridges

Side-by-side box-beam bridges are constructed in US, Japan as well as in Europe. There is a recent thrust to use this bridge type because of the ability to rapidly construct them with minimal interruption to traffic. Focus of this article is the box-beam bridges built in Michigan. Current Michigan box-beam bridges utilize full-depth shear keys, a six-inch cast-in-place concrete deck and lateral posttension. Michigan bridges utilize the largest transverse posttension force magnitudes in the US. Yet, reflective deck cracking along the beam joints is continuing to be a common problem and it is identified as the leading cause of the premature deterioration process of the bridge. In order to evaluate several conflicting conclusions present in the literature, shear key condition of a decommissioned bridge was monitored. In addition, a box-beam bridge deck construction was monitored during each construction stage and shear key conditions were documented. Six-inch cast-in-place concrete bridge deck was inspected and reflective longitudinal deck cracking was documented few days after construction but before opening to traffic. Inspection data helped clarify the inconsistencies in literature and to identify the time and location of inception of cracking.

  • Corporate Authors:

    Federal Highway Administration

    1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
    Washington, DC  United States  20590

    National Concrete Bridge Council

    Portland Cement Association, 5420 Old Orchard Road
    Skokie, IL  United States  60077-1083

    Missouri Department of Transportation

    105 West Capitol Avenue
    Jefferson City, MO  United States  65102

    American Concrete Institute (ACI)

    38800 Country Club Drive
    Farmington Hills, MI  United States  48331
  • Authors:
    • Attanayake, Upul
    • Aktan, Haluk
  • Conference:
  • Publication Date: 2008

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: CD-ROM
  • Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 18p
  • Monograph Title: HPC: Safe, Affordable, and Efficient

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01105167
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Jul 25 2008 7:49AM