FOAMED CONCRETE IN BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

Foamed concrete products are becoming more widely accepted in the construction industry. One of the largest applications of structural foamed concrete in the UK was to a new railway bridge embankment in Colchester, Essex, England. There, 4000 cu m were pumped behind two bridge abutments, to meet the lightweight void-filling requirements, while allowing a saving of structural materials and labour. The bridge was required to support a new carriageway. A lightweight fill material was needed, because the bridge is founded on soft clays. The final specification for the foamed concrete was: (1) for the top metre, a 28-day compressive strength of 4.5N/sq mm and 1450kg/cu m target plastic density; and (2) below the top metre, a 28-day compressive strength of 3.0N/sq mm and 1250kg/cu m target plastic density. This combination gave an average dry density of 1200kg/cu m for the infill. The foamed concrete was found to meet the necessary strength requirements. Foamed concrete was also recently supplied for repairs to the bridge deck of a flyover connecting Llandudno Junction and Deganwy to Conwy in North Wales. The 25-year-old bridge structure, incorporating lightweight concrete, was showing signs of leakage and possible reinforcement corrosion. Foamed concrete was used to replace the bad lightweight concrete.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00105317
• Corporate Authors:

  THE CONCRETE SOCIETY

  3 EATONGATE, 112 WINDSOR ROAD
  WEXHAM,   United Kingdom  SL1 2JA
• Authors:
  • PICKFORD, C
  • CROMPTON, S
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 14-5
• Serial:
  • CONCRETE
  • Volume: 30
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: THE CONCRETE SOCIETY
  • ISSN: 0010-5317

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Clay; Concrete; Construction; Corrosion; Density; Embankments; Expanded materials; Industries; Lightweight concrete; Material reinforcement; Railroad tracks; Reinforcing materials; Repairing; Strength of materials
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 3455: Bridge; 4177: Clay; 4755: Concrete; 3655: Construction; 5252: Corrosion; 5908: Density; 2801: Embankment; 4502: Expanded material; 332: Industry; 4740: Lightweight concrete; 3471: Reinforcement (in mater); 3635: Repair; 5544: Strength (mater); 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00733093
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Mar 24 1997 12:00AM