Rapid-Construction Technique for Bridge Abutments Using Controlled Low-Strength Materials
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 28, Issue 1
Abstract
The time required for building bridge abutments is one of the main obstacles facing rapid bridge construction. For typical span bridges, this can be remedied by using controlled low-strength materials (CLSM) as backfill materials placed behind full-height, precast concrete panels that are integrated with the CLSM backfill via steel anchors. The CLSM bridge abutments can be constructed in a short time as they require neither heavy machinery for excavation and compaction nor piling equipment. In addition to the speedy construction, the ability to use by-product material, such as fly ash and foundry sand, in CLSM backfill translates into greater economy and the potential for a sustainable design. This paper describes the behavior of an instrumented laboratory, large-scale CLSM bridge abutment with full-height, precast concrete panels that was subjected to a monotonically increasing sill pressure. The experiment showed that the CLSM bridge abutment is capable of carrying typical bridge loads with a large safety margin and with negligible deformations.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The research group thanks the National Center for Freight & Infrastructure Research & Education (CFIRE) for the financial support.
References
American Concrete Institute (ACI). (1999). “Controlled low-strength materials (Reapproved 2005).” ACI 229R-99, ACI Committee 229, Detroit.
Cheng, H., and Capers, H. (2009). “Overnight delivery: New Jersey DOT rapid bridge replacement.” Proc., 25th U.S.-Japan Bridge Engineering Workshop, Public Works Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan, 163–172.
Najafi, F. T., and Tia, M. (2004). “Use of accelerated flowable fill in pavement section.” Rep. Prepared for Florida DOT, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Newman, F. B., Rojas-Gonzalez, L. F., and Knott, D. L. (1993). “Implementation plan for design and use of flowable backfills by PennDOT for highway and bridge construction.” Rep. No. FHWA-PA-91-007+90-12, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Washington, DC.
Schmitz, M. E., Parsons, R. L., Ramirez, G., and Zhao, Y. (2004). “Use of controlled low-strength material as abutment backfill.” Rep. No. K-TRAN: KU-02-6, Kansas DOT, Topeka, KS.
Snethen, D. R., and Benson, J. M. (1998). “Construction of CLSM approach embankment to minimize the bump at the end of the bridge.” STP1331: The design and application of controlled low-strength materials (flowable fill), ASTM, West Conshohocken, PA, 165–179.
Snethen, D. R., Schwidder, A. J., Benson, J. M., and Koening, S. A. (1997). “Performance of experimental approach embankments at Slat River bridges on U.S. 177.” Rep. FHWA/OK-97(04), Oklahoma DOT, Oklahoma City.
Stamnas, P. E., and Whittemore, M. D. (2005). “All precast substructure accelerates construction of prestressed concrete bridge in New Hampshire.” PCI J., 50(3), 26–39.
Trejo, D., Folliard, K. J., and Du, L. (2004). “Sustainable development using controlled low-strength material.” Proc., Int. Workshop on Sustainable Development and Concrete Technology, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA, 231–250.
Wilson, J. (1999). “Flowable fill as backfill for bridge abutments.” Rep. No. WI-16-99, Wisconsin DOT, Madison, WI.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 28 • Issue 1 • February 2014
Pages: 149 - 156
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 16, 2012
Accepted: Oct 9, 2012
Published online: Oct 12, 2012
Published in print: Feb 1, 2014
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.