The use of silica fume concrete for bridge decks and bridge-deck overlays has become a widely accepted practice by many state highway agencies, primarily because of its favourable effects on transport properties and compressive strength. However, cracking in some bridge decks constructed with silica fume concrete has led to some concern about its suitability for these applications. Under NCHRP Project 18-3, "Silica Fume Concrete for Bridge Decks", Construction Technology Laboratories Inc. of Skokie, Illinois, was assigned the task of determining the effects of the form and dosage of silica fume admixtures and other concrete mixture parameters on the concrete properties most relevant to bridge-deck applications, and recommending concrete mixtures and construction practices for enhancing the deck's performance. This report documents the work performed under NCHRP Project 18-3 and describes the relevance of silica fume concrete mixtures and construction practices to the performance of bridge decks and bridge-deck overlays. (A)
Abstract