1998 Catalog of Practical Papers
IV. CEMENT AND CONCRETE
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980128 “Permeability Specification for High Performance Concrete Decks”
980139 “Shrinkage of High Performance Concrete Overlays on Route 60 in Virginia”
980440 “Field and Laboratory Evaluation of Silica Fume Modified Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays in Ohio”
980514 “Influence of Early Age Volume Changes on Long-Term Concrete Shrinkage”
980510 “Effect of Water-Cement Ratio on the Early Age Tensile Strength of Concrete”













980128 “Permeability Specification for High Performance Concrete Decks”

Abstract: Durable concrete exposed to the environment requires a proper air-void system for protection against cycles of freezing and thawing. In addition, durable concretes must have low permeability to resist the infiltration of harmful solutions into concrete. There are four major types of environmental distress in reinforced concretes: corrosion of the reinforcement, alkali-aggregate reactivity, freezing and thawing deterioration, and attack by sulfates. Corrosion of the reinforcing steel is the most extensive. In each case, water or solutions penetrating into the concrete initiate or accelerate the distress, making costly repairs necessary. Air-entrained concretes that have low permeability are required to resist the infiltration of aggressive liquids and provide the necessary durability upon exposure to the environment. Permeability is the property that governs the rate of flow of a fluid into a porous solid. Conclusions: All other factors being equal, low-permeability concretes perform better in severe environments than ordinary portland cement concretes and can be categorized as high performance concrete (HPC). Air-entrained HPCs with very low permeability can be achieved with the use of a pozzolan or slag at a W/CM below 0.45. Proper construction practices are needed to produce quality concrete elements. With proper use and interpretation, the rapid permeability test provides satisfactory results and can be used in specifications for accepting concrete.
Celik Ozyildirim, Ph.D., Principal Research Scientist, Virginia Transportation Research Council, 530 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Tel: (804)-293-1977 Fax: (804)-293-1990. e-mail:
hco9e@virginia.edu

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980139 “Shrinkage of High Performance Concrete Overlays on Route 60 in Virginia”


Abstract: Chlorides from deicing salts and a marine environment infiltrate concrete and initiate corrosion of the steel reinforcement. Rust formation results in expansion that may cause cracking and delaminations. Other harmful solutions may also cause distress because of alkali-silica reactivity, sulfate attack, or freezing and thawing damage that require costly repairs. Low-permeability concretes in overlays are expected to provide a barrier to the infiltration of harmful solutions. However, the overlays may develop shrinkage cracks, facilitating the infiltration of harmful solutions. The purpose of this project was to demonstrate and evaluate 16 overlay systems for bridge rehabilitation. In this paper, the 13 overlay concretes are described and the fresh (air content and slump) and hardened properties (strength, permeability, and drying shrinkage) are presented. Our report of their condition after 1 year is based on a visual survey. Conclusions: High performance concrete overlays that have low permeability to chloride penetration and satisfactory compressive, flexural, and bond strengths can be constructed with a variety of combinations of SF, fly ash, S, latex, corrosion inhibiting admixtures, SRA, and fibers. The concretes with the SRA have the lowest shrinkage values. The overlays with the polyolefin fibers have a rough surface. Finally, the overlays are in good condition after 1 year.
Michael M. Sprinkel, Celik Ozyildirim, PhD., Virginia Transportation Research Council, 530 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Tel: (804)-293-1941 Fax: (804)-293-1990. e-mail:
mms2c@virginia.edu

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980440 “Field and Laboratory Evaluation of Silica Fume Modified Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays in Ohio”


Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate, under field and laboratory conditions, the properties of silica fume modified concrete (SFMC) mixes that have been used by the Ohio Department of Transportation for bridge deck overlays since 1984. The research methods included construction monitoring of nine overlay placement projects, visual inspections of 145 decks, in-depth condition surveys of 28 decks, and testing of laboratory SFMC mixes using materials obtained from the construction monitoring projects. Conclusions: The performance of SFMC overlays in Ohio through 1995 was generally very good, with none of the existing overlays showing spalling or patching. Instances of drying shrinkage cracking were noted. Laboratory testing indicated that the SFMC mixes showed low chloride permeability values and very high compressive strength values. Recommendations are provided regarding the mix design and construction specifications, with the intent being to reduce the potential for drying shrinkage. This paper is not included on the 1998 Preprint CD-ROM. Please contact author for information.
Michael G. Fitch, Osama A. Abdulshafi, Department of Civil Engineering, Ohio State University, 470 Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1275. Tel: (614) 292-4988 Fax: (614) 292-3780. e-mail:
fitch.29@osu.edu.

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980514 “Influence of Early Age Volume Changes on Long-Term Concrete Shrinkage”


Abstract: Volume changes can occur in concrete during the first 24 hours which are generally missed in laboratory shrinkage evaluations. Unfortunately these early age volume changes are present in real pavements and structures and can contribute to the cracking behavior of the concrete at later ages. Early age volume changes can occur in two forms: drying shrinkage prior to the start of curing and autogenous volume changes. Expansions have also been identified in some cases. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of some investigations of volume changes in concrete during the first 24 hours under both drying and non-drying conditions. In this study a ring test was used to evaluate the cracking potential of a concrete mixture due to shrinkage and tensile strain development. Measured material properties including split tensile strength, elastic modulus, drying shrinkage, and autogenous volume change were used to evaluate the cracking potential of the mixtures. Conclusions: Autogenous volume changes significantly affected the tensile strain capacity of the concretes in this study. Because the autogenous volume change was expansion, the tensile strain capacity of these concretes was increased. Many instances of autogenous shrinkage have been identified in the literature, and this autogenous shrinkage could significantly reduce the tensile strain capacity of those concretes. Autogenous volume changes must be considered when evaluating the cracking potential of a concrete mixture.
Erika E. Holt, Technical Research Centre of Finland, VTT Building Technology, P.O. Box 1805, FIN-02044, VTT, Finland. Tel: (358 9) 456-4567 Fax: (358 9) 456-7004. e-mail:
ehirow@u.washington.edu. Dr. Donald J. Janssen, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Washington, Box 352700, Seattle, WA 98195-2700. Tel: (206) 543-7331 Fax: (206) 543-1543. e-mail: d6423@u.washington.edu.

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981510 “Effect of Water-Cement Ratio on the Early Age Tensile Strength of Concrete”


Abstract: Cracks develop in otherwise uncracked concrete when tensile stresses exceed the tensile strength of the material. This is true even in the first few hours after casting fresh concrete. The authors examined the rate at which tensile strength develops in recently cast concrete. Conclusions: The chief difficulty in such studies is in measuring low values of tensile strength for a viscous, inelastic material. Designing and building appropriate experimental apparatus for this work became a major portion of the project. It appears that there is a dormant period from between 2 to about 4 hours in which tensile strength was immeasurably low. Pragmatically, this corresponds to the time period in which plastic shrinkage cracking is frequently seen to be initiated. Tensile capacity developed very rapidly after the dormant period, and in all cases development of tensile strength was more rapid the lower the water-cement ratio. This paper is not included on the 1998 Preprint CD-ROM. Please contact author for information.
Jon Abel, Walter P. Moore and Associates. Ken Hover, Cornell University, 302 Hollister Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853. Tel: (607) 255-3406 Fax: (607) 255-9004. e-mail:
kch7@cornell.edu.


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