Bridges are a vital component of transportation infrastructure in the United States, and the continual maintenance and preservation of bridges is critical to maintaining their structural capacity and maximizing service life. One of the most significant issues faced by concrete bridges is the infiltration of moisture from the roadway surface...
Structurally efficient and cost-effective solutions are needed to extend the service-life of deficient and aging highway infrastructure around the world. One critical need is to increase the flexural strength of older reinforced concrete (RC) structures to carry heavier and more frequent loads. Titanium alloy bars (TiAB) offer a new opportunity...
Large numbers of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges were built in the past that are now considered seismically deficient. The structural members most likely to be considered deficient are the supporting columns. Typical deficient columns contain inadequate transverse reinforcement and poorly detailed lap splice lengths above the foundation. Insufficient lap splice...
Aging and deficient infrastructure has become a major problem throughout the world. This is particularly evident in the case of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges. The cost of replacing these bridges is often prohibitive, thus engineers must find ways to strengthen them. Many older RC bridges predate the modern understanding of...
Many older reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) bridges contain straight bar terminations of flexural reinforcement. Common bridge design practice of the 1950s did not consider the additional demands on the terminated bars from shear and flexure. Moreover, more stringent code specifications and heavier permit trucks contribute to the insufficient ratings...
Large numbers of reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) bridges were built during the highway infrastructure boom of the 1950's. The advent of standardized deformed steel reinforcing bars during this time allowed for straight bar terminations in flexural tension regions. Designers of the time terminated reinforcing bars where they were no...
High Performance Concrete (HPC) is used in our crucial pieces of infrastructure, such as bridge decks, due to its enhanced durability and engineering properties. However, HPC is highly susceptible to early-age cracking. Cracking within the first months of a bridge deck’s lifespan can severely hinder its long-term performance and durability....
The research presented in this thesis assessed the use of high strength steel (HSS) reinforcement for use in reinforced concrete (RC) bridge columns. HSS is not currently allowed in reinforced concrete bridge columns due to a lack of information on the material characteristics and performance information when used in RC...
In the field of civil infrastructure, bridge desks are typically constructed using high performance concrete (HPC). Concrete bridge decks demand qualities such as low permeability, high abrasion resistance, superior durability, and long design life. Over decades of field and laboratory experience, many HPC bridge decks have been found to be...
High performance concrete (HPC) provides a long lasting, durable concrete that is typically used in bridge decks due to its low permeability, high abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw resistance and strength. However, this type of concrete is highly susceptible to the deleterious effects of both autogenous and drying shrinkage. Both types of...