A REVIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL USE OF LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE IN HIGHWAY BRIDGES

The report reviews the use of lightweight concrete for highway bridges in North America, the USSR, Poland, Western Europe and the UK. It discusses the scale of the use of these structures, economic advantages and the prospects for increasing their use in the UK. The types of bridge in which lightweight concrete has been used range from simple reinforced concrete foot bridges to long-span post tensioned segmental box girder bridges. Weight savings of 25 to 30 per cent on the superstructure can be achieved in some cases. Overall cost savings of 10 per cent or more are possible once allowance has been made for the higher initial cost of the lightweight aggregate. Lightweight concrete bridges have generally performed satisfactorily in service. In particular the use of lightweight concrete is suggested for precast prestressed components to reduce handling costs where access is limited, as for local road improvements and urban renewal schemes, or where ground conditions are difficult. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0721012388
• Corporate Authors:

  Concrete Society

  Terminal House, Grosvenor Gardens
  London,   England 
• Authors:
  • Raithby, K D
  • Lydon, F D
• Publication Date: 1981-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Concrete bridges; Costs; Economic benefits; Highway bridges; Lightweight aggregates; Lightweight concrete; Teams; Weight; Workshops
• Geographic Terms: Belgium; Europe; Former Soviet Union; France; Germany; Netherlands; Poland; United Kingdom; United States
• ITRD Terms: 8008: Belgium; 3455: Bridge; 224: Cost; 8034: Europe; 8036: France; 8125: Germany; 4740: Lightweight concrete; 8078: Netherlands; 8089: Poland; 8119: United Kingdom; 8122: USA; 8123: USSR; 5485: Weight; 9090: Working group
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Economics; Finance; Highways; Materials; Planning and Forecasting; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I32: Concrete; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00345811
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0 7210 1238 8
• Report/Paper Numbers: Tech Rpt. 20 Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 27 1982 12:00AM