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Determining Optimal Traffic Opening Time Through Concrete Strength Monitoring: Wireless Sensing, Zhihao Kong, Na Lu

JTRP Technical Reports

Construction and concrete production are time-sensitive and fast-paced; as such, it is crucial to monitor the in-place strength development of concrete structures in real-time. Existing concrete strength testing methods, such as the traditional hydraulic compression method specified by ASTM C 39 and the maturity method specified by ASTM C 1074, are labor-intensive, time consuming, and difficult to implement in the field. INDOT’s previous research (SPR-4210) on the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique has established its feasibility for monitoring in-situ concrete strength to determine the optimal traffic opening time. However, limitations of the data acquisition and communication systems have significantly hindered the …

Synthesis Study: Repair And Durability Of Fire-Damaged Prestressed Concrete Bridge Girders, Tzu-Chun Tseng, Amit H. Varma

JTRP Technical Reports

Recent research results from INDOT research project SPR-4221 indicate that the damage to prestressed concrete bridge girders from an intense hydrocarbon fire is limited to concrete material degradation up to a depth of 1 inch from the surface. Additionally, concrete cracking and spalling occur in the fire-damaged region, but the structural strength (flexure and shear) of fire-exposed prestressed concrete bridge girders is not compromised. The findings open the possibility for repairing damaged bridge girders and answers questions regarding the durability of damaged-unrepaired and damaged-repaired girders.

Determining The Optimal Traffic Opening Timing Through An In-Situ Ndt Method For Concrete Early Age Properties, Yen-Fang Su, Guangshuai Han, Na (Luna) Lu

JTRP Technical Reports

Developing a reliable in-situ testing method to determine the strength of concrete for traffic opening is a critical need for INDOT, due to the fast-pace construction schedule exposes concrete pavements and/or structures undergoing a substantial loading conditions even at its early ages. Nevertheless, the current methods for determining traffic opening times are inefficient and expensive, often causing construction delays or cost overruns. To address this critical need, we propose to develop an in-situ nondestructive testing (NDT) method that enables an accurate and efficient understanding of early age properties of concrete using electromechanical impedance (EMI) method coupled with piezoelectric sensors.

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Implementing Rapid Durability Measure For Concrete Using Resistivity And Formation Factor, W. Jason Weiss, Chunyu Qiao, Burkan Isgor, Jan Olek

JTRP Technical Reports

The durability of in-place concrete is a high priority issue for concrete pavements and bridges. Several studies have been conducted by INDOT to use electrical resistivity as a measure of fluid transport properties. Resistivity is dependent on the chemistry of the cement and supplementary cementitious system used, as such it has been recommended that rather than specifying resistivity it may be more general to specify the formation factor. Samples were tested to establish the current levels of performance for concrete pavements in the state of Indiana. Temperature and moisture corrections are presented and acceptable accelerated aging procedure is presented. A …

Link Slab Details And Materials, Ghadir Haikal, Julio A. Ramirez, Mohammad R. Jahanshahi, Sandra Villamizar, Osama Abdelaleim

JTRP Technical Reports

This report contains the findings of a synthesis study on the use of link slabs to eliminate intermediate joints in bridges of Indiana. The study was conducted under the sponsorship of the Joint Transportation Research Program. The motivation for the study was to investigate this promising technique to mitigate the damage associated with expansion joints that has long been recognized as a persistent and costly issue negatively impacting the bridge service life.

The report summarizes the background information and motivation for the study. It also provides a description of the report organization. The results of an extensive literature review of …

Performance Of Concrete Pavement In The Presence Of Deicing Salts And Deicing Salt Cocktails, Prannoy Suraneni, Jonathan Monical, Erol Unal, Yaghoob Farnam, Chiara Villani, Timothy J. Barrett, W. Jason Weiss

JTRP Technical Reports

Deicing salts are widely used for anti-icing and de-icing operations in pavements. While historically sodium chloride may have been the deicer most commonly used, a wide range of deicing salts have begun to be used to operate at lower temperatures, to "stick to the road better" and to improve other aspects of performance such as environmental impact or corrosion resistance. It has been observed that some chloride based deicing salts can react with the calcium hydroxide in the mixture resulting in the formation of calcium oxychloride an expansive phase that can damage concrete pavements, especially at the joints. This report …

The Economic Impact Of Implementing Nondestructive Testing Of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks In Indiana, Benjamin R. Taylor, Yu Qiao, Mark D. Bowman, Samuel Labi

JTRP Technical Reports

The deck is among the most expensive components of a bridge over its lifetime because of the frequent and costly maintenance and rehabilitation required. Currently, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) performs visual inspections of a bridge deck as the principal means of determining its condition, which enables the inspector to definitively document the surface condition while the unseen condition below the deck surface is left to the inspector’s expert judgement. To compensate for this lack of data, INDOT supplements visual inspections with programmatic scheduling for major work actions, which is very effective for INDOT but costly. In this continuing …

A Mobile Concrete Laboratory To Support Quality Concrete, Technology Transfer, And Training, Cameron Wilson, Nathan Todd, Timothy J. Barrett, Alex Coyle, Robert Spragg, Miguel A. Montoya, John E. Haddock, W. Jason Weiss

JTRP Technical Reports

This report is a summary of work performed by the Mobile Infrastructure Materials Testing Laboratory (MIMTL) as a part of the Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) through SPR-3858. The development of the MIMTL began in February of 2014 and became fully operational by June of 2014. The MIMTL was deployed in the field for a total of 46 days. This report describes the activities of the MIMTL as of December 2015. The MIMTL was involved in the field testing of concrete bridges, concrete pavements, and asphalt pavements. This report describes the development of the mobile testing laboratory and provides some …

Early Detection Of Joint Distress In Portland Cement Concrete Pavements, Dwayne Harris, Yaghoob Farnam, Robert Spragg, Paul Imbrock, W. Jason Weiss

JTRP Technical Reports

INDOT (as well as several surrounding states) have observed that certain concrete pavements may show a susceptibility to joint deterioration. Unfortunately, by the time that this joint deterioration is observed it is often too late and costly partial depth repairs are needed. The deterioration is generally occurring in the joint behind the backer rod and joint sealant; as such, it is difficult to detect even if one is standing directly above the joint. This project investigated the use of electrical resistivity and ground penetrating radar as two techniques to detect premature joint deterioration. The thought process was that if the …

Evaluation Of Sealers And Waterproofers For Extending The Life Cycle Of Concrete, Andrew Wiese, Yaghoob Farnam, Wesley A. Jones, Paul Imbrock, Bernie Tao, W. Jason Weiss

JTRP Technical Reports

Concrete pavements represent a large portion of the transportation infrastructure. While the vast majority of concrete pavements provide excellent long-term performance, a portion of these pavements have recently shown premature joint deterioration. Substantial interest has developed in understanding why premature joint deterioration is being observed in jointed portland cement concrete pavements (PCCP). While some have attributed this damage to insufficient air void systems, poor mixture design, or chemical reaction between the salt and the paste, it is the hypothesis of this work that a component of this damage can be attributed to fluid absorption at the joints and chemical reactions …

Electrical Testing Of Cement-Based Materials: Role Of Testing Techniques, Sample Conditioning, And Accelerated Curing, Robert Spragg, Yiwen Bu, Kenneth Snyder, Dale Bentz, Jason Weiss

JTRP Technical Reports

These projects examined the potential for using electrical testing on concrete as a potential surrogate for obtaining information on ion and fluid transport. Electrical measurements are particularly attractive for use in quality control as they are easy to perform, are performed rapidly, and can be directly related to fluid transport. This work describes how electrical resistance measurements should be corrected for geometry to obtain a geometry independent resistivity or conductivity. Further, this work reviews and discusses several factors that influence the resistivity that is measured including porosity, pore connectivity, the role of temperature on degree of hydration (activation energy), temperature …

Post-Tensioning Technologies, Ryan W. Jenkins, Michael E. Kreger, Robert J. Frosch

JTRP Technical Reports

Post-tensioned bridge construction has become increasingly popular and financially competitive with traditional prestressed concrete and steel plate girder bridges. Unfortunately, Indiana has experienced several construction-related problems in the few post-tensioned structures built, some of which have caused significant long-term durability concerns. Indiana’s problems have generally been attributed to a lack of a standard set of specifications for post-tensioned construction as well as inexperience and inadequate training of contractors and inspectors. These types of issues, however, were once more prevalent throughout the industry and much work has been accomplished in recent years to address these issues. This research program had two …

Durability Of Saw-Cut Joints In Plain Cement Concrete Pavements, Javier Castro, Wenting Li, Mohammad Pour-Ghaz, Mike Golias, Bernie Tao, Hongfang Sun, William Jason Weiss

JTRP Technical Reports

The objective of this project was to evaluate factors influencing the durability of the joints in portland cement concrete pavement in the state of Indiana. Specifically this work evaluated the absorption of water, the absorption of deicing solutions, the relationship between the degree of saturation and concrete deterioration, and the role of Soy Mehyl Esters as a potential concrete sealant. The aforementioned items were studied in conjunction with the observation of premature joint deterioration in concrete pavements. Previous work by the PI identified that deteriorating joints were observed to frequently have standing water and damaged joint sealant. To better understand …

Variability Analysis Of The Bulk Resistivity Measured Using Concrete Cylinders, Robert P. Spragg, J. Castro, Tommy E. Nantung, M. Paredes, W. Jason Weiss

JTRP Technical Reports

Many agencies are interested in using a rapid test method for measuring the electrical properties of concrete (i.e., the resistivity or conductivity) since the electrical properties can be related to fluid transport (e.g., ion diffusion). The advantage of electrical testing is that it is relatively easy to perform and the test method is relatively fast (less than a minute). Over the last century, many studies have investigated different approaches for measuring electrical properties. This paper describes the variability associated with measuring the bulk resistivity along the longitudinal axis of a cylinder after placing electrodes on either end. A multi-laboratory evaluation …

Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Permeability Performance, Javier Castro, Robert Spragg, Phil Kompare, W. Jason Weiss

JTRP Technical Reports

The objective of this project was to evaluate the transport properties of concrete pavement in the state of Indiana using common testing procedures. Specifically this work evaluated the absorption of water, the absorption of deicing solutions, and electrical conductivity. A series of concrete paving mixtures were tested to provide a range of values that were typical for the state of Indiana. While similar mixture proportions were used for the mixtures in Indiana differences in the magnitude of water absorbed occurred. A series of mortars were tested to illustrate the effect of curing conditions, water to cement ratio, and paste volume. …

High-Performance Concrete Bridge Decks: A Fast-Track Implementation Study Volume 2: Materials, Mateusz Radlinski, Jan Olek

JTRP Technical Reports

The purpose of this research was to examine the applicability of ternary binder systems containing ordinary portland cement (OPC), class C fly ash (FA) and silica fume (SF) for bridge deck concrete. This was accomplished in two parts, the laboratory part and a field application part.

During the laboratory studies, four ternary mixtures, each containing either 20% or 30% FA and either 5% or 7% SF were subjected to four different curing regimes (air drying, 7 days curing compound application and 3 or 7 days wet burlap curing). In general, all four ternary mixtures exhibited very good water and chloride …

Saw-Cutting Guidelines For Concrete Pavements: Examining The Requirements For Time And Depth Of Saw-Cutting, Kambiz Raoufi, Tony Their, W. Jason Weiss, Jan Olek, Tommy E. Nantung

JTRP Technical Reports

Joints are placed in Portland cement concrete pavements (PCCP) to control random cracking. These joints provide a weakened plane that enables a crack to form in a controlled manner, relieving residual stresses that develop when thermal, hygral, or hydration movements are resisted by sub grade and adjoining pavement. While the concept of creating a weakened plane through saw-cutting is straightforward, determining the time and depth of the saw-cut has proven to be complicated. The goal of this project was to reduce the risk for joint raveling and random cracking. Specifically, this project has focused on: developing a procedure for determining …

Relating Material Properties To Exposure Conditions For Predicting Service Life In Concrete Bridge Decks In Indiana, Vinit Barde, Aleksandra Radlinska, Menashi Cohen, W. Jason Weiss

JTRP Technical Reports

Bridges in the US are deteriorating at an alarming rate. It has been estimated that transportation agencies across the US invest more than 5 billion dollars on concrete bridge repair and renovation annually. To meet the needs of transportation industry, high performance concrete (HPC) has been developed for the construction of bridges. However, to date, the link between material properties and field performance is not completely established. Goodspeed et al. [1996] defined the performance of concrete using four material parameters that describe durability and four material parameters that describe mechanical properties. It should be noted however that material properties alone …

Performance Related Specifications (Prs) For Concrete Pavements In Indiana, Volume 2: Technical Report, Cole Graveen, Eric Max Falker, Micah Beaver, Narayanan Neithalath, W. Jason Weiss, J. Olek, Tommy Edward Nantung, Victor Lee Gallivan

JTRP Technical Reports

Performance-Related Specifications (PRS) are specifications that base pavement acceptance and pay adjustment on the projected performance and predicted life-cycle cost (LCC) for a specific pavement. PRS relate measurable quality characteristics with pavement performance through computer simulations that incorporate physical distress models. Previously, work at ERES consultants by Darter and co-workers developed prototype PRS for jointed plain portland cement concrete pavements (PCC) through Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) through a series of research projects. However, before this research program began, pavements have not been constructed using these specifications. This report describes the Indiana Department of Transportation’s (INDOT) experience with developing and implementing …

Performance Related Specifications (Prs) For Concrete Pavements In Indiana, Volume 1: Executive Summary, Cole Graveen, Eric Max Falker, Micah Beaver, Narayanan Neithalath, W. Jason Weiss, J. Olek, Tommy Edward Nantung, Victor Lee Gallivan

JTRP Technical Reports

Performance-Related Specifications (PRS) are specifications that base pavement acceptance and pay adjustment on the projected performance and predicted life-cycle cost (LCC) for a specific pavement. PRS relate measurable quality characteristics with pavement performance through computer simulations that incorporate physical distress models. Previously, work at ERES consultants by Darter and co-workers developed prototype PRS for jointed plain portland cement concrete pavements (PCC) through Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) through a series of research projects. However, before this research program began, pavements have not been constructed using these specifications. This report describes the Indiana Department of Transportation’s (INDOT) experience with developing and implementing …

High-Performance Concrete Bridge Decks: A Fast-Track Implementation Study, Volume 1: Structural Behavior, Robert J. Frosch, Timothy S. Aldridge

JTRP Technical Reports

Transverse cracking of concrete bridge decks is problematic in numerous states. Cracking has been identified in the negative and positive moment regions of bridges and can appear shortly after opening the structure to live loads. To improve the service life of the bridge deck as well as decrease maintenance costs, changes to current construction practices in Indiana are being considered. A typical bridge deck was instrumented which incorporated the following: increased reinforcement amounts, decreasing reinforcement spacing, and high-performance, low-shrinkage concrete. The low shrinkage concrete was achieved using a ternary concrete mix. The objective of this research was to determine the …

Long-Term Effects Of Super Heavy-Weight Vehicles On Bridges, Scott M. Wood, Necip Onder Akinci, Judy Liu, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

A permit truck which exceeds the predefined limit of 108 kips is defined as a superload in Indiana. This study was conducted to examine the long-term effects of superload trucks on the performance of typical slab-on-girder bridges and to assess the likelihood of causing immediate damage. Typical steel and prestressed concrete slab-on-girder type bridges were analyzed using both beam line analysis and detailed finite element models. Furthermore, one prestressed concrete bridge and one steel bridge were instrumented using more than 50 sensors each. Strains and deflections were measured during a live load test, and each bridge was monitored for more …

Implementation Of A Non-Metallic Reinforced Bridge Deck, Volume 1: Bond Behavior, Robert J. Frosch, A. Cihan Pay

JTRP Technical Reports

The primary maintenance problem with bridges in Indiana has been deterioration of the concrete deck which is often related to corrosion of the reinforcing steel. While a corrosion protection system consisting of epoxy-coated reinforcement in combination with 2-1/2 in. of Class C concrete cover has been used in Indiana, research and experience have demonstrated that this system can be compromised. As an alternative solution to the corrosion problem in reinforced concrete, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars which are corrosion resistant can be provided as reinforcement. This research was divided into two phases directed towards the implementation of a nonmetallic reinforced …

Implementation Of A Non-Metallic Reinforced Bridge Deck, Volume 2: Thayer Road Bridge, Robert J. Frosch, Ali Cihan Pay

JTRP Technical Reports

The primary maintenance problem with bridges in Indiana has been deterioration of the concrete deck which is often related to corrosion of the reinforcing steel. While a corrosion protection system consisting of epoxy-coated reinforcement in combination with 2-1/2 in. of Class C concrete cover has been used in Indiana, research and experience have demonstrated that this system can be compromised. As an alternative solution to the corrosion problem in reinforced concrete, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars which are corrosion resistant can be provided as reinforcement. This research was divided into two phases directed towards the implementation of a nonmetallic reinforced …

Evaluation Of Rapid Setting Cement-Based Materials For Patching And Repair, Amit D. Barde, Swathi Parameswaran, Todd Chariton, W. Jason Weiss, Menashi D. Cohen, Scott Andrew Newbolds

JTRP Technical Reports

The efficient repair and replacement of concrete pavements and bridge decks often requires a rapid setting material that can be placed, cured, and opened to traffic in a relatively short period of time. Frequently, temporary repairs are made using materials that are later found to be incompatible with the existing pavement, structures, and environment. This practice causes these materials to fail prematurely, frequently requiring re-repair. Research is needed to determine which rapid setting repair materials demonstrate the best behavior with rapid strength gain, low potential for cracking, and excellent durability. The objective of this research is to evaluate the performance …

Design Methods For The Control Of Restrained Shrinkage Cracking, Robert J. Frosch, Jacob Kenyon Bice, Jared Bruce Erickson

JTRP Technical Reports

Cracking in concrete bridge decks can result in increased susceptibility to deterioration. As cracks provide direct routes for the ingress of deleterious elements to the reinforcement and superstructure, cracking can lead to reduced service lives for bridge structures. Several factors affect the extent of cracks which develop in bridge decks; however, relatively few are within the control of the designer. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of design parameters on the performance of bridge decks with respect to cracking and to develop simple design tools that are appropriate for both steel and nonmetallic reinforcement. This research …

Interaction Between Micro-Cracking, Cracking, And Reduced Durability Of Concrete: Developing Methods For Considering Cumulative Damage In Life-Cycle Modeling, Zhifu Yang, W. Jason Weiss, J. Olek

JTRP Technical Reports

It is becoming increasingly popular to utilize numerical simulation models to predict the long-term performance of concrete pavements and structures. The majority of these models have been developed using laboratory test data that considers concrete in an uncracked state. While uncracked concrete exists as the best case scenario, frequent cracking occurs in real structures that could have a profound impact on life cycle performance. Cracks from several sources may accumulate and interact thereby accelerating the deterioration of concrete. For example, the distributed cracking caused by freeze/thaw damage can substantially increases the rate of water absorption and reduces the load carrying …

Initial Study For Cost-Effectiveness Of Joint/Crack Sealing, Chuanxin Fang, Khaled A. Galal, David R. Ward, John E. Haddock

JTRP Technical Reports

The sealing and resealing of joints and cracks in PCC, HMA, and composite pavements is assumed to be an important component of pavement maintenance. Recently this practice has been challenged by research indicating that sealing may not be cost-effective. The Indiana Department of Transportation currently spends approximately four million dollars annually to perform joint/crack sealing. The primary objective of the research presented in this report is to investigate the costeffectiveness of joint/crack sealing in relation to pavement performance. The results of a mail survey showed that most states, including Indiana, do not have quantitative justification for sealing policies, nor do …

Design Of Durable Concrete Railroad Crossings, Anthony J. Lamanna, Charles F. Scholer

JTRP Technical Reports

Existing precast concrete railroad crossings in the state of Indiana are experiencing too short a life expectancy. This study proposes methods that can be used to produce durable concrete railroad crossings with satisfactory rideability, durability, and longevity. Thirty-two precast concrete railroad crossings were visited in central and northern Indiana. Failures were determined to belong to three major categories: structural capacity causes, environmental causes, and material property causes. A concrete mix was evaluated at three different polyolefin fiber contents and without fibers. Beams were tested in flexure, and modulus of rupture and first crack deflection were recorded for each beam. Cylinders …

Influence Of Curing Conditions On Strength Properties And Maturity Development Of Concrete, Scott Andrew Newbolds, Jan Olek

JTRP Technical Reports

In this study, the results of both laboratory studies and a field study, conducted to evaluate the effects of different curing conditions on the strength properties and maturity development of pavement concrete, are presented. Further, a laboratory study was performed to evaluate the maturity concept in relation to the degree of hydration of cement. Concrete specimens, beams and cylinders, were prepared in the field study. The specimens in the field were cured in one of four curing conditions: lime bath, sandpit, air, or by temperature match curing. Specimens were tested for flexural strength and compressive strength, respectively. The temperature of …