Mitigation Strategies for Early-Age Shrinkage Cracking in Bridge Decks

Early-age shrinkage cracking has been observed in many concrete bridge decks in Washington State and elsewhere around the U.S. The cracking increases the effects of freeze-thaw damage, spalling, and corrosion of steel reinforcement, thus resulting in premature deterioration and structural deficiency of the bridges. In this study, the main causes of the early-age cracking in the decks are identified, and concrete mix designs as a strategy to prevent or minimize the shrinkage cracking are evaluated. Different sources (eastern and western Washington) and sizes of aggregates are considered, and the effects of paste content, cementitious materials (cement, fly ash, silica fume, slag), and shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) are evaluated. A series of fresh, mechanical and shrinkage property tests were performed for each concrete mix. The outcomes of this study identify optimum concrete mix designs as appropriate mitigation strategies to reduce or eliminate early-age shrinkage cracking and thus help minimize shrinkage cracking in the concrete bridge decks, potentially leading to longer service life.

• Record URL:
  http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/747.1.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Washington State Transportation Center

  Washington State University
  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Sloan Hall
  Pullman, WA  United States  99164-2910

  Washington State Department of Transportation

  Office of Research and Library Services
  Olympia, WA  United States  98504-7372

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Qiao, Pizhong
  • McLean, David I
  • Zhuang, Jianmin
• Publication Date: 2010-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Final Research Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 91p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregate gradation; Bridge decks; Cement; Concrete; Cracking; Fly ash; Mix design; Silica fume; Slag
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aggregate sources; Early age concrete; Shrinkage cracking; Shrinkage reducing admixtures
• Geographic Terms: Washington (State)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01159592
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: WA-RD 747.1
• Contract Numbers: T4120-08
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 23 2010 3:58PM