Investigation of Cracks Observed in Underwater Bridge Seal Structures and Crack Control by Means of Material Design
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 34, Issue 6
Abstract
A large number of cracks were observed in a bridge seal structure during an underwater inspection. The seal is long, wide, and deep and thus is considered mass concrete. The concrete mixture contains a 45% cement replacement with Class F fly ash. The seal is evaluated to identify the causes of cracking. The heat of hydration (HoH) and temperature rise are experimentally evaluated. Subsequently, a finite-element analysis model is developed using input from the experimental study. The modeling approach is validated with results from sizeable specimens. A coupled thermal-structural analysis is performed to evaluate the temperature-time history and extent of cracking. The results indicate internal temperature in the seal slightly exceeds the allowable temperature of 70°C, which is known for exposing concrete to the risk of delayed ettringite formation. The gradient temperature exceeds the allowable limit of 19.4°C, leading to increased tensile strain. A sensitivity analysis indicates that two mixtures that contain a 70% cement replacement with slag, metakaolin, and/or fly ash are recommended for reducing the internal temperature below 70°C. However, it is concluded that the differential temperature requirement (19.4°C) cannot be met by altering material designs alone. Therefore, active cooling is necessary to control temperature when placing underwater seal structures with a volume-to-surface-area ratio greater than 4.0.
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Data Availability Statement
All photos, construction drawings, FEA models, and analysis output data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The study presented in this paper was conducted by the University of Georgia under the auspices of the Georgia DOT (RP 16-30). The authors extend our sincere appreciation to Georgia DOT research staff and materials engineers. The opinions, findings, and conclusions may not reflect the views of the funding agency or other individuals.
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Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 34 • Issue 6 • December 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 28, 2020
Accepted: Jun 18, 2020
Published online: Sep 25, 2020
Published in print: Dec 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Feb 25, 2021
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