Compilation and Evaluation of Results from High-Performance Concrete Bridge Projects, Volume I: Final Report

In 1993, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) initiated a national program to implement the use of high-performance concrete (HPC) in bridges. The program included the construction of demonstration bridges throughout the United States. In addition, other States have implemented the use of HPC in various bridge elements. The construction of these bridges has provided a large amount of data on the use of HPC.\nThe first part of this project involved collecting and compiling information from each joint State-FHWA HPC bridge project and other HPC bridge projects. The compilation is available on a CD-ROM and includes information on the benefits of HPC, costs, structural design, specified concrete properties, concrete mix proportions, measured properties, associated research projects, sources of data, and specifications. Information from 19 bridges in 14 States is included. A summary of the compiled information is provided in this final report.\nThe second part of this project involved a review of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling and Testing, the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges, the AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Design Specifications, and the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Construction Specifications for provisions that directly impact the use of HPC. The detailed review is included in this report.\nThe third part of the project involved the development of proposed revisions to the AASHTO specifications where sufficient research results exist to support the revisions. Proposed revisions to 15 material specifications, 14 test methods, 30 articles of the standard design specifications, 17 articles of the LRFD design specifications, and 16 articles of the LRFD construction specifications are included in this report. In addition, a new materials specification for combined aggregates and a new test method for slump flow are proposed. Proposed revisions to the FHWA definition of HPC are also included.\nThe fourth part of the project involved the development of specific recommendations for needed research where sufficient results do not exist to support needed changes in the specifications. Six research problem statements related to concrete materials and four research problems related to structural design are recommended.\nThe appendixes for this volume appears in volume II:\nCompilation and Evaluation of Results from High-Performance Concrete Bridge Projects, Volume II: Appendixes (FHWA-HRT-05-057).\n