Development of GDOT Ultra-High Performance Concrete for Accelerated Bridge Construction
Sponsor: Georgia Department of Transportation
Project Information
PI: Lauren Stewart, Co-PI: Kim Kurtis, Larry Kahn
Students: Aaron Miller
Dates: April 5, 2018 - April 4, 2021
Funding: $417,000
Summary
The use of precast prestressed girders with composite precast deck panels along with the use of precast prestressed deck bulb-T girders may provide for much more economical bridges because of their ability to utilize accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques. The use of concrete deck panels and deck bulb-T systems require the use of closure pours between the units. Minimizing the width of the closure between deck and bulb-T units provides further economies by greatly simplifying formwork and eliminating shoring.
Ductal, a proprietary ultra high performance concrete (UHPC), has been shown to provide an outstanding link between deck segments for closure pours as narrow as 6-in. Development of a non-proprietary UHPC (GDOT-UHPC), based upon materials available in the state, for bridge deck closure pours and other maintenance repairs could result in large savings during bridge construction. The development of a lower cost, non-proprietary GDOT-UHPC will provide an economical option for UHPC in Georgia; but, more importantly, the widely available non-proprietary UHPC will facilitate the use of innovative, accelerated construction of bridges statewide.