Research Activities: 2012

High-Strength Self-Consolidating Concrete (HS-SCC) and High-Volume Fly Ash Concrete (HVFAC) for Infrastructure Elements: Implementation

 
 Status Complete                      View Final Report: PDF
 
Sequential Number R315
 
Identification Number 00040350
   
Matching Research Agency Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and In-kind Salary
 
Principal Investigator John J. Myers
Associate Professor, Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Missouri University of Science and Technology
325 Butler Carlton Hall; 1401 North Pine Street
Rolla, MO 65401
(573) 341-6618
jmyers@mst.edu
 
Student Involvement

1 Ph.D. and 1 M.S.

 

Project Objective

The objective of this research is to provide an implementation test bed and showcase for the use of HS-SCC and HVFA concrete as well as evaluate MoDOT NU Girder shear behavior consisting of HS-SCC. This study will also investigate the in-situ performance of both HS-SCC and HVFAC in Missouri bridges including to monitor the serviceability and structural performance of the concrete members in the structure i.e., monitor deflections of prestressed girders from casting through service conditions, perform condition survey, monitor any signs of distress.

 

Project Abstract

Because of its unique nature, high-strength self-consolidating concrete (HS-SCC) has the potential to significantly reduce costs associated with transportation-related infrastructure, benefiting both MoDOT and the residents of Missouri. HS-SCC is a highly flowable, nonsegregating concrete that can be placed without any mechanical consolidation, and thus has the following advantages over conventional concrete:

 

  • decreased labor and equipment costs during concrete placement,
  • decreased potential for and costs to repair honeycombing and voids,
  • increased production rates of precast and cast-in-place elements, and
  • improved finish and appearance of cast and free concrete surfaces.

 

In addition to HS-SCC, innovative materials such as High Volume Flay Ash Concrete (HVFAC) also provides a significant potential to produce more cost effective mix designs for cast-in-place concrete. Since the 1930’s, fly ash – a pozzolanic material – has been used as a partial replacement of portland cement in concrete to improve the material’s strength and durability, while also limiting the amount of early heat generation. From an environmental perspective, replacing cement with fly ash reduces concrete’s overall carbon footprint and diverts an industrial by-product from the solid waste stream (currently, about 40 percent of fly ash is reclaimed for beneficial reuse and 60 percent is disposed of in landfills). In this implementation study, a level of 50% fly ash to cement proportions will be utilized.

This project aims to implement research undertaken at Missouri S&T and elsewhere on HS-SCC and HVFAC into an implementation project. It also aims to study the shear behavior in full-scale NU girders that are fabricated with HS-SCC.

 

Relationship to other Research/Projects

Field implementation project. New project request.

   

Transportation-Related Keywords

High Strength Self-Consolidating Concrete, High Volume Fly Ash Concrete, Bridge Field Implementation, Bridge Demonstration Project
   

Technology Transfer Activities

Project Technical Report, Technical Presentation to Technical Societies, and Publication of findings into Conference and Journal Publication. NUTC Newsletter Article.

   

Project Deliverables

Project Report at Dec. 31, 2012. Task deliverables including the match project deliverables are shown under the task list below.  Items reflected with an * are expected to be initiated and undertaken before the NUTC end date of 31 Dec. 2013.
   

Anticipated Benefits

Implementation of HS-SCC into MoDOT NU Girders and Field Implementation of HVFAC into MoDOT CIP Bridge Pier Caps. Improved understanding of shear behavior of HS-SCC in full-scale shear member testing.

Milestones

Project Start Date: 10/1/2012
Project End Date:

06/30/2014