Durability of Lightweight Concrete Bridge Decks in Utah

Details

• Creators:
  Guthrie, W. Spencer ; Eusebi-Diehr, Lorenzo ; Burdette, Steven B.
• Corporate Creators:
  Brigham Young University. Department of Civil and Construction Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  Utah. Department of Transportation. Research and Innovation Division ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Bridge Decks Concrete Bridges Data Analysis Durability Freeze Thaw Durability Laboratory Tests Lightweight Concrete Modulus Of Elasticity Recycling Strength Of Materials Tension Tests

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  UT-26.12
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Utah
• Edition:
  Final Report: March 2023 to January 2026
• Corporate Publisher:
  Utah Department of Transportation
• Abstract:
  The objectives of this research were to document and compare properties of lightweight concrete and normal-weight concrete used for construction of bridge decks and approach slabs in northern Utah. The scope of work included field and laboratory testing to characterize concrete at three lightweight concrete bridge deck sites and the normal-weight concrete approach slabs at one of these sites, as well as laboratory testing to characterize concrete specimens obtained through previous research on lightweight and normal-weight concrete bridge decks. For field testing, a distress survey was performed at each test location, and then cover depth testing, Schmidt rebound hammer testing, resistivity testing, chloride concentration sampling, and coring were performed. For laboratory testing, regarding samples obtained during the current research, modulus of elasticity testing, compressive strength testing, splitting tensile strength testing, rapid chloride permeability and absorption testing, and chloride concentration testing were performed. Regarding samples obtained from previous research, coefficient of thermal expansion testing and freeze-thaw durability testing were performed. As a basis for discussion, ratios of values for lightweight concrete to values of normal-weight concrete were computed for selected properties, for which the normal-weight concrete approach slabs and the normal-weight concrete cores and cylinders were used as a baseline. The properties include resistivity, modulus of elasticity, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, chloride permeability, absorption, coefficient of thermal expansion, and stiffness retained after freeze-thaw durability testing. Overall, the data suggest that, compared to normal-weight concrete, lightweight concrete absorbs more water, allows higher rates of chloride ion ingress, is more susceptible to degradation under freeze-thaw cycling, and has lower resistance to cracking. Several recommendations were developed to potentially improve the performance of lightweight concrete.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  23-9019
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6e2c5004c2de3bcf6d778731daf65fa6db7667e411a52660938ea530f6c678876a3b2f39c9a5c83654d338a122956bbf889892b52dad0a89471e426c36673c90
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/92744/dot_92744_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 15.24 MB ]