Application of High Strength Concrete for Highway Bridges: Executive Summary

OOT-FH-11-9510This document presents the results of a study and experimental work to determine the potential benefits of using high strength (10,000 psi compressive strength) concrete for highway bridge construction. Current knowledge and applications of high strength concrete are reviewed and related to use with the MSHIO bridge specifications. Conceptual designs are developed that show the potential of increased span lengths and/or wider girder spacings for commonly used prestressed concrete girder shapes. The designs show that cross sectional areas of compression members (such as struts) can be reduced and thinner sections can be used for segmental bridges, arch bridges, and piers. The capacity of thin concrete plates in buckling is studied. A computer program is presented that is capable of developing comprehensive interaction diagrams to determine whether local thin plate buckling or overall stability is the controlling factor for square hollow piers made with thin plates of high strength concrete. Piers 15-feet (4.6m) long, 5-feet (1.Sm) square with 1-1/2-inch (40 nm) thick walls were load tested und.er varying eccentricities to confirm the interaction diagrams. Code proposals and concepts for more rapidly adapting the use of high strength concrete to highway bridges are suggested