Inspecting the Lightweight Precast Concrete Panels in the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Deck of 1982
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 23, Issue 6
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a detailed inspection of the deck panels of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge installed in 1982. The original cast-in-place concrete deck, constructed in 1962, was replaced with full-depth lightweight precast concrete deck panels that enabled rapid construction with minimal traffic disruption. The inspection of the Woodrow Wilson deck provides valuable information about the performance of the precast concrete panels, joints, and connections after 20 years of very harsh traffic loads and environmental stressors. The deck panels performed well overall, with the only serious problems at expansion and contraction joints. All of these joints exhibited cracking and rusting. The most prevalent type of cracking appeared to be due to restrained shrinkage between the new polymer concrete, the older precast panels, and the rigid steel joints. This location is more vulnerable to cracking and leaking because there is no prestress across the joint. The multilayered corrosion protection methods used for the transverse and longitudinal post-tensioning tendons were very successful.
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References
Bowers, S. E., Roberts-Wollmann, C. L., Cousins, T. E., and Schokker, A. J. (2007). “Inspection of the lightweight precast concrete panels in the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge deck replacement project of1982.” Rep. No. PTI 2008–06, Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, University Park, Pa.
Lutz, J. G., and Scalia, D. J. (1984). “Deck widening and replacement of Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.” PCI J., 29(3), 74–93.
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© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 29, 2008
Accepted: Apr 22, 2009
Published online: Apr 24, 2009
Published in print: Dec 2009
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