0197-9191

Illinois Center for Transportation

NTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Bridges and StructuresNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Pavement Management and Performance ; NTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Materials ;

PDF

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is a highly workable concrete that flows through densely reinforced or

complex structural elements under its own weight. The benefits of using SCC include: a) Reducing labor costs

by eliminating the need for mechanical vibration, b) Improving constructability, c) Providing a virtually flawless

finish, d) Providing uniform and homogenous concrete, and e) Easily filling a complex shape formwork. Even

though SCC is comparable to conventional concrete in terms of strength, the comparability of its bond to steel is

less well-defined. This disparity of knowledge becomes more critical when using SCC in prestressed members

due to the impact that bond strength has on the transfer and development lengths of prestressing tendons.

The increasing interest among Illinois precasters in using SCC in bridge girders has motivated the Illinois

Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) to sponsor this synthesis

study, which reviews and combines information from literature discussing the impact of using SCC on the

transfer and development lengths of prestressing tendons in AASHTO bridge girders. The primary objectives of

this study include: (1) Utilizing the results of previous research to evaluate the effect of using SCC on the

transfer and development lengths of prestressing tendons and evaluate how SCC compares with conventional

concrete, (2) Investigating the feasibility of using SCC in AASHTO bridge girders without the need for changing

current design provisions recommended by the ACI and AASHTO, and (3) Providing IDOT with

recommendations regarding the application of SCC in prestressed bridge girders.

US Transportation Collection

ICT R27-36