Factors Affecting Loss in Durability in Prestressed-Concrete Girders with Microcracking
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 25, Issue 9
Abstract
Early-age unexplained cracking in concrete structures is always a concern, as this signals the occurrence of uncontrolled volumetric changes. A study to investigate the effects of early-age microcracks on the service life of in-service prestressed-concrete girders was conducted. The temporal evolution of the cracks during a two-year period in 13 full-scale prestressed, precast girders was studied. Five of the girders were not subjected to external loads, whereas the remaining eight girders were in-service and under external loads. The results show that during the time frame considered, exposure conditions and the presence of pre-existing cracks had a more significant impact on the growth of microcracking than the effect of external loads, even when a protective coating was applied to the girder surfaces. Furthermore, the study showed that the temporal behavior of cracks can be better understood when both crack width and cracking density are taken into consideration.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this project was supported by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Project 0-6922, Evaluating Long-Term Durability and Performance of Pre-stressed Concrete Beam with Extensive Surface Cracking. The authors extend their gratitude to the Project Manager, Mr. Chris Glancy, and the entire TxDOT Project 0-6922 research team members, especially Mr. Andy Naranjo, Mr. Jason Tucker, Mr. Doug Dupler, Mr. Donny Davis, Mr. Abraham Ramirez, Mr. Frank Estrada III, Mr. Hector Garcia, Mr. Lianxiang Du, and Mr. Todd Speck. The authors also express their appreciation to the precasting yards for allowing access to the girders. The authors also thank Ms. Jessica Milligan for her assistance in conducting field measurements for this study.
Disclaimer
The results of this study do not represent Texas Department of Transportation opinions.
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Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 25 • Issue 9 • September 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 13, 2019
Accepted: Mar 23, 2020
Published online: Jul 13, 2020
Published in print: Sep 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Dec 13, 2020
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