RAPID STRENGTH PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE

Caltrans needs a fast setting concrete with early high strength gain so that short nighttime working windows, between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., can be used to repair and rehabilitate highways and structures. Proprietary cements have been used in the past with some degree of success for concrete slab replacement work and for a limited bridge structural repair. Until now, the goal of a portland cement concrete mix, which can be placed and subsequently opened to traffic within four to six hours, has been elusive. This report describes a fast setting portland cement concrete with high early strength gain which was developed using conventional aggregates, a selected Type I, II/III or III cement, and the latest innovations in concrete admixture technology. This concrete can be mixed and delivered in a ready mix truck, meets workability requirements, and gains strength rapidly at cooler nighttime temperatures thus allowing opening to traffic typically four hours after placing. This was accomplished by using (1) a Glenium formulation which is a newer high range water reducing admixture, (2) Delvo a hydration control stabilizer to control setting time, and (3) a high dose rate of Pozzolith NC 534, a set accelerator. This combination of materials and admixtures made possible any slump up to 10 inches, as desired, through concrete placement. This concrete mix design was found to be user friendly by both the concrete producer and the construction crew placing the mix. Planned future uses for this unusual concrete include a wide range of applications, primarily for highway pavement repair and rehabilitation in urban areas but also for bridge and other emergency repairs. Also, because this early high strength concrete is user friendly, its use by Highway Maintenance personnel should result in reduced lane closure times and aid significantly in traffic congestion relief.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Full conference proceedings available on CD-ROM.
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Asset Management, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Pyle, T
  • Sugar, R S
• Conference:
  • National Pavement Preservation Forum II: Investing in the Future
  • Location: San Diego, California
  • Date: 2001-11-6 to 2001-11-8
• Publication Date: 2001

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 9p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge engineering; Bridges; Concrete bridges; Concrete mixing; Highway maintenance; Highways; Pavement performance; Portland cement; Portland cement concrete; Rehabilitation; Strength of materials; Structures; Traffic congestion
• Geographic Terms: California
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials; Pavements; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00976176
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-IF-03-019
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 26 2004 12:00AM