Investigation of panel-to-panel connections and block-outs for full-depth precast concrete bridge decks.

Details

• Creators:
  Swenty, Matthew K. ; Cousins, Thomas E. ; RobertsWollmann, Carin L.
• Corporate Creators:
  Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research
• Corporate Contributors:
  Virginia. Dept. of Transportation ; United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Precast concrete
  • Bridge decks
  • Structural connection
  • Panels
  • Posttensioning
  • Surface treating
  • Tensile strength
  • Cracking
  • Grout
  • Laboratory tests
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/VCTIR 15-R5
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Virginia
• Corporate Publisher:
  Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research
• Abstract:
  Experimental tests were performed at Virginia Tech to investigate transverse panel-to-panel connections and horizontal shear ; connector block-outs for full-depth precast concrete bridge deck panels. The connections were designed for a deck replacement ; project for a rural three-span continuous steel beam bridge in Virginia. Two reinforced and four post-tensioned connections were ; designed and tested in cyclical loading. Each connection was tested on a full-scale, two-beam setup in negative bending with a ; simulated HS-20 vehicle. The block-outs for the horizontal shear connections were also scrutinized during construction and testing. ; Several surface treatments were investigated to determine the best strategy to limit cracking and leakage at the grout-concrete ; interface. The strain profile, cracking patterns, and ponding results are presented for all specimens. ; The reinforced connections and two post-tensioned connections with 167 psi initial stress experienced cracking and leaked ; water by the end of the cyclic loading regime. In two connections post-tensioned with an initial compressive stress of 340 psi, the ; tensile stress in the deck under full live load remained below approximately 3√(f'c). These transverse connections did not leak water, ; did not have full-depth cracking, and maintained a nearly linear strain distribution throughout the design life. Full-depth deck panels ; may be effectively used on continuous bridges if post-tensioning force is applied to the transverse connections to keep the total ; tensile stress (remaining prestress minus live load stress) below 3√(f'c) . ; The block-outs with a sand-blasted surface or an epoxy primer combined with a grout that met the requirements recommended ; by Scholz et al. (2007) had only slight water leakage, and had smaller cracks at the grout-concrete interface than the control samples. ; These surface treatments are recommended for best long-term performance.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  82670
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/29012/dot_29012_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.69 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:9fe4761356a21f13e3aa68e7e883c4d6c7864b0f1197f2ccc2fdeba5413b284d