UHPC Based Solutions for Accelerated Bridge Construction

Abstract

A significant portion of the existing roadway system in the United States was built over 50 years ago and is widely showing signs of increasing deterioration. Construction activities related to bridge replacement and rehabilitation are important contributors to traffic jams and reduced mobility and, most importantly, to safety hazards. Conventional construction practices have proven inadequate to address the magnitude of the problem now facing this nation. Highway system disruptions due to work zones must be considered when evaluating the need for rapid renewal procedures. Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) has the potential to reduce both the frequency and duration of work zone disruptions. ABC is a delivery solution method for building and repairing bridges with the capability to reduce the interruption to traffic and increase safety. UHPC provides a new horizon for addressing many actions that are needed to be taken to address the challenges facing the nation with respect to existing bridges. At ABC-UTC, researchers have developed many UHPC based solutions that can retrofit/upgrade existing bridges or be utilized for the construction of new bridges. These solutions include systems where formwork is replaced by a UHPC shell that becomes a permanent part of bridges, connections for connecting prefabricated bridge elements, 3D printing, automation, durability, and fire resistance of bridge elements constructed using UHPC, advanced integral abutment systems, shotcrete and more. This presentation will provide an overview of some of the UHPC based solutions, developed at ABC-UTC.