Concrete-Polymer Materials for Highway Applications

Details

• Creators:
  Fowler, David W. ; Paul, Donald R
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Texas at Austin. Center for Highway Research
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Admixtures Beams Bridge Decks Durability Impregnation (Engineering) Polymer Concrete Posttensioning Road Construction Waterproofing
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/TX-79/03+114-9F
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Texas ; United States
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  University of Texas at Austin. Center for Highway Research
• Abstract:
  The use of concrete-polymer materials for highway applications has been studied with the objective of providing durable materials that would reduce maintenance in highway structures. Several significant developments resulted from this research. Partial-depth polymer impregnation was developed for improving durability of bridge decks. The process includes drying the concrete, cooling the surface, applying a low viscosity monomer solution to a sand cover, and permitting it to soak into the concrete, and applying heat to polymerize the monomer in the concrete to a depth of 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) or more. Post-tensioned polymer-impregnated beams were made and tested to determine the structural behavior. Beams with an I-shaped cross-section and a span of 8 ft (2.7 m) were fully impregnated with a monomer solution. High strength wire tendons were post-tensioned, and the beams were tested to determine the flexural and shear behavior. Significant increases in strength and stiffness were observed. Time-dependent deflections were reduced by an order of magnitude. Polymer concrete was developed for repairing bridge decks. Clean, dry, graded aggregate is placed in the repair area and a monomer system that has sufficient promoter and initiator to polymerize at ambient conditions is applied to fully saturate the aggregate. Polymerization occurs in 30 to 45 minutes, producing a sound and durable repair. A polymer concrete overlay was developed to waterproof bridge decks. A thin layer of dry sand is covered with coarse aggregate. Two monomer solutions are applied and polymerization occurs at ambient temperature.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  3-9-71-114
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d6635b2c9b41d88ec5aa825cc20e242e8327879034f720381e079bff63e316369651c30153d7940ca91b9be8e16fa3cf58443067befef3b39c48e2b85b2ad67d
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/85511/dot_85511_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 656.22 KB ]