National Concrete Pavement Technology Center

Project description

Cracking of concrete bridge decks is detrimental to the service life of bridge infrastructure. Multiple factors affect bridge deck cracking including material properties, construction techniques, structural design, and environmental conditions. To enhance construction productivity, contractors in the state of Virginia have requested Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to allow for continuous placement of bridge decks, instead of the recommended segmental/checkerboard placement technique in which positive moment sections are casted first. While a preliminary literature review suggests that continuous placement of bridge decks increases the likelihood of cracking due to greater tensile stress development, VDOT engineers are uncertain whether this practice could significantly exacerbate bridge deck cracking, leading to a reduced service life of the bridge structure. As a response, the purpose of this study is to: (1) perform an in-depth literature review on the subject; (2) conduct a survey among state DOTs and VDOT districts to gather their collective knowledge and experience on the impact of bridge deck placement techniques on deck cracking performance; and (3) recommend placement methods to minimize cracking.