HPC in Bridges
HPC in Bridges
HPC in Bridges
NU1350 83 76 69 69 62 62 62 55
Table 1 Maximum effective girder compressive strength, after Kahn and Saber (34)
Economics of High Strength Concrete
Compressive strength at transfer the most significant
property, allowable tension at service minor impact.
Maximum spans increased up to 45 percent
Use of 15.2 mm strand for higher strengths.
Strength of the composite deck had little impact.
HSC allowed longer spans, fewer girder lines, or
shallower sections.
Maximum useful strengths:
I girders with 12.7 mm strand - 69 MPa
I girders with 15.2 mm strand - 83 MPa
U girders with 15.2 mm strand - 97 MPa
Economics of High Strength Concrete
AS 5100 Provisions for HSC
Maximum compressive strength; 65 MPa
Cl. 1.5.1 - Alternative materials permitted
Cl 2.5.2 - 18 MPa fatigue limit on compressive stress
- conservative for HSC
Cl 6.11 - Part 2 - Deflection limits may become
critical
Cl 6.1.1 - Tensile strength - may be derived from
tests
Cl 6.1.7, 6.1.8 - Creep and shrinkage provisions
conservative for HSC, but may be derived from test.
AS 5100 and DR 05252
Clause Subject Provisions
AS 5100 DR 05252 AS 5100 DR 05252
1.1.2 1.1.2 Concrete srength and 25-65 MPa, 2100-2800 kg/m3 20-100 MPa, 1800-2800 kg/m3
density range
1.5.1 - Use of alternative materials Alternatives allowed Clause removed
2.2 2.2 Strength reduction factors Phi reduced for ku > 0.4 Phi reduced for ku > 0.375
2.5.2 - Fatigue provisions Maximum stress under fatigue Not included
loading = 18 MPa
6.1.1 3.1.1.2(b) Tensile strength From compressive strength or tests From flexural or tensile tests,
(b,c) upper and lower bound factors
applied if compressive strength
used
6.1.2 3.1.2 Modulus of elasticity Proportional to square root fc Revised for higher strength grades
6.1.7 3.1.7 Shrinkage Default basic shrinkage strain Autogeneous and drying shrinkage
independent of concrete strength calculated separately, both related
to concrete strength
6.1.8 3.1.8 Creep Basic creep factor constant for f'c Basic creep factor increased for f'c
>= 50 MPa = 40, 50 MPa; reduced for f'c >=
80 MPa
6.4.3.3 3.4.3.3 Loss of prestress due to Default creep factor uses prestress Default creep factor reduced to
creep force before time-dependent 80% of AS 5100 value
losses.
8.1.2.2 8.1.3 Rectangular stress block Stress = 0.85f'c Stress = (1.0-0.003f'c)f'c with limits
of 0.67 and 0.85
8.2.7.1 8.2.7.1 Shear strength of beams Shear strength proportional to f'c1/3 f'c1/3 limited to 4 Mpa, ie no
excluding shear increase in shear strength for f'c >
reinforcement 64 MPa
8.2.8 8.2.8 Minimum shear Independent of concrete strength Increased area for f'c > 36 MPa
reinforcement
8.6.1(a) 8.6.1(a) Minimum steel area in 3ks(Act/fs) Cl 8.1.4.1 (minimum strength
tensile zone requirements) applied
9.1.1 9.1.1 Minimum tensile steel in Independent of concrete strength Increased area for f'c > 30 MPa
slabs approx
AS 5100 and DR 05252
Main Changes:
Changes to the concrete stress block parameters for
ultimate moment capacity to allow for higher strength
grades.
More detailed calculation of shrinkage and creep
deformations, allowing advantage to be taken of the
better performance of higher strength concrete
Shear strength of concrete capped at Grade 65.
Minimum reinforcement requirements revised for higher
strength grades.
Over-conservative requirement for minimum steel area
in tensile zones removed.
Case Studies
Concrete strength: 50 MPa to 100 MPa
Maximum spans for typical 3 lane Super-T girder bridge
with M1600 loading
Standard Type 1 to Type 5 girders
Type 4 girder modified to allow higher pre-stress force:
Increase bottom flange width by 200 mm (Type 4A)
Increase bottom flange depth by 50 mm (Type 4B)
Increase bottom flange depth by 100 mm (Type 4C)
Case Studies
Compressive strength at transfer = 0.7fc.
Steam curing applied (hence strand relaxation applied
at time of transfer)
Strand stressed to 80% specified tensile strength.
Creep, shrinkage, and temperature stresses in
accordance with AS 5100.
In-situ concrete 40 MPa, 160 mm thick in all cases.
Assumed girder spacing = 2.7 m.
Case Studies
55
50
80 MPa
45
Number of Strands
Type 1
Type 2
40 Type 3
Type 4
65 MPa
Type 5
35
50 MPa
30
25
18.00 20.00 22.00 24.00 26.00 28.00 30.00 32.00 34.00 36.00 38.00
Maximum Span, m
Super-T Maximum Span
85
80
75
Number of Strands
70
Type 4
80 MPa Type 4A
65
Type 4B
Type 4C
60
50 MPa
55
65 MPa
50
45
33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Maximum Span, m
Case Studies - Summary
Significant savings in concrete quantities and/or
construction depth.
Grade 65 concrete with standard girders.
Grade 80 concrete with modified girders and Type 1 and
2 standard girders.
More substantial changes to beam cross section and
method of construction required for effective use of
Grade 100 concrete.
Future Developments
Strength-weight ratio becomes comparable to steel:
Strength-Weight Ratio
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
0
Structural steel Concrete High strength Lightweight HSC
concrete
Future Developments
Summary
Clear correlation between government/industry
initiatives and useage of HPC in the bridge market.
Improved durability the original motivation for HPC
use.
Studies show direct economic benefits.
HPC usage in Australia limited by code restrictions.
Recommendations
65 MPa to be considered the standard concrete
grade for use in precast pre-tensioned bridge girders
and post tensioned bridge decks.
The use of 80-100 MPa concrete to be considered
where significant benefit can be shown.
AS 5100 to be revised to allow strength grades up to
100 MPa as soon as possible.
Optimisation of standard Super-T bridge girders for
higher strength grades to be investigated.
Investigation of higher strength grades for bridge
deck slabs, using membrane action to achieve
greater spans and/or reduced slab depth.
Recommendations
Active promotion of the use of high performance
concrete by government and industry bodies:
Review of international best practice
Review and revision of specifications and
standards
Education of designers, precasters and
contractors
Collect and share experience