PCI eLearning Course T210: Introduction on Full-Depth Panel Precast Concrete Deck System and its Advantages-ASPIRE Ultra-High Performance Conc Connections

ASPIRE Ultra-High Performance Conc Connections

Pdf Summary

This article discusses the use of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) in the construction of highway infrastructure. Prefabricated components are increasingly being used in highway construction, but they often require field-deployed connection details. UHPC, a new class of cementitious composite, is ideal for developing new solutions to highway infrastructure deterioration. UHPC can be used to create stronger and more durable connections between prefabricated bridge components compared to conventional connection designs.<br />UHPC is made up of a combination of portland cement, silica fume, fine aggregates, chemical admixtures, water, and steel fiber reinforcement. The mechanical properties of UHPC, such as high compressive and tensile strength, make it suitable for redesigning connection details between prefabricated concrete bridge elements. UHPC allows for simpler and narrower connections, and it can also be used to revise connection details where interface shear dominates the response.<br />Field-cast UHPC connections have been successfully used in bridge projects across the United States, and states such as New York, Iowa, Oregon, Montana, and Pennsylvania have already deployed UHPC connections. Design and construction guidance for UHPC connections is currently being developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and a guideline is expected to be published in late 2014. <br />Overall, UHPC connections provide new opportunities for creating robust structural systems composed of prefabricated components in highway construction. The performance of UHPC connection concepts has been demonstrated through research and deployments in bridge inventories.

Keywords

ultra-high-performance concrete

UHPC

highway infrastructure

prefabricated components

connection details

mechanical properties

compressive strength

tensile strength

bridge projects

Federal Highway Administration