Colorado Parks & Wildlife Research Library

This study evaluates the strength and long-term performance of CFRP prestressed panels in a bridge deck, compares the behavior of bridge decks designed with the empirical and conventional methods of AASHTO, and a new limit-state design, and examines the influence of lap splices between precast panels on deck cracking.

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is a stable and highly flowable concrete that consolidates without the help of external vibration and can flow through heavy reinforcement and around corners in complex formwork under its own weight. The exceptional performance of this remarkable material has attracted the attention of construction firms and DOTs in the United States interested in using SCC on new bridge construction and bridge repair projects.

The study found that FAST systems have demonstrated the potential to reduce the number of crashes and reduce the cost of winter maintenance activities, if sited at appropriate locations (e.g., high-traffic-volume ice-prone ramps). However, improved installation techniques and involvement of maintenance crews during FAST installation are necessary to further increase the cost-effectiveness of a FAST system deployment. Extra effort will be made in sharing...

In the past several decades, reinforced concrete structures have deteriorated similarly by chemical attack, especially chloride attack. For highway bridges, this phenomenon becomes more severe since bridges are exposed to extreme environmental conditions, such as snow and ice. In an effort to better protect the bridge decks and reduce maintenance costs. The use of WPMs was investigated by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to analyze...

Bridge decks deteriorate faster and require more maintenance and repair than any other structural components on highway bridges. Topical protection systems act as barriers to protect bridge decks from corrosion damage by preventing water, oxygen, and chloride ions from reaching the reinforcement. This study evaluated topical protection systems commonly used on highway bridge decks in Colorado, including low-permeability concrete overlays and waterproof...