Strength, Ductility, and Collapse Response of UHPC Waffle Slabs
This article has been corrected.
VIEW CORRECTIONPublication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 7
Abstract
Waffle slabs made of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) are now being widely used in bridge deck construction. However, to date, no research has been conducted to study their failure behavior. Two one-way waffle slab strips made of UHPC were load-tested under four-point bending to investigate their strength, ductility, and failure patterns. An identical set made of high strength concrete (HSC) was also tested to provide a comparison to specimens made with traditional construction materials. The UHPC specimens exhibited multiple fine cracks prior to rebar yielding and failed by steel rebar rupture after a single crack localized. In contrast, the HSC slab strips exhibited several large cracks and substantially larger ductility than the UHPC slab strips, although their strength was about 40% less than the corresponding UHPC specimens. The experimental results were used to validate a three-dimensional finite element model, which was then employed to investigate the two-way response of UHPC waffle slabs. The simulation study revealed that the yield line design method is applicable to UHPC waffle slabs despite their markedly different behavior compared to concrete slabs. Like the HSC slabs, the UHPC slabs also exhibited displacements and load carrying capacities well in excess of those predicted by flexural theories, due to formation of membrane action.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The specimens were cast in the Northern Concrete Pipe, Inc., plant in Bay City, Michigan. The following individuals facilitated specimen design, construction, and delivery for testing at the University of Michigan Structures Laboratory: W. E. (Bill) Washabaugh, Jr., Richard Brewster, Guy Nelson, and Todd Stelma. Their help, support and insights into the research are greatly appreciated. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 7 • July 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 8, 2022
Accepted: Mar 10, 2023
Published online: May 8, 2023
Published in print: Jul 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Oct 8, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bridge decks
- Concrete
- Concrete slabs
- Continuum mechanics
- Cracking
- Decks
- Ductility
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Engineering mechanics
- Forensic engineering
- Fracture mechanics
- High-performance concrete
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials engineering
- Mechanical properties
- Slabs
- Solid mechanics
- Strength of materials
- Structural engineering
- Structural failures
- Structural members
- Structural systems
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