Reinforced concrete bridge deck repair using a thin bonded overlay: results from the Cosmos bridge experimental repair

Title: Reinforced concrete bridge deck repair using a thin bonded overlay: results from the Cosmos bridge experimental repair
Author(s): R. Gagné
Paper category : conference
Book title: International RILEM TC 193-RLS Workshop on Bonded Concrete Overlays
Editor(s): J.L. Granju and J. Silfwerbrand
Print-ISBN: None
e-ISBN: 2912143837
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2004
Pages: 67 - 82
Total Pages: 16
Nb references: 3
Language: English

Abstract: Repair work using a thin bonded overlay consists in removing the damaged concrete from the slab's surface and replacing it by a thin concrete layer. Laboratory research conducted over the past three years identified the key design parameters influencing the performances of a thin bonded overlay. Results have shown that it is possible to repair a reinforced concrete slab with a thin bonded overlay while preserving the structural capacity of the repaired element. An experimental panel was set up on the Cosmos Bridge in an attempt to validate certain conclusions and recommendations provided through laboratory testing. During this investigation, part of the deck was repaired using six types of fiber-reinforced concrete overlays (one HPC, two ordinary concretes, two shrinkage-compensating concretes, and one concrete containing a shrinkage reducing agent). Each overlay (9.2 m x 2.5 m) is 80 mm thick. All concretes used underwent a complete characterization (mechanical properties, freeze-thaw and scaling durability, and shrinkage). Certain test slabs were instrumented with vibrating wire strain gauges to document the evolution of deformations induced by thermal cycles, shrinkage and service loads. This paper presents the characteristics of the concrete, construction details and a follow-up on the overlay's performances (isothermal deformations, cracking, adherence) for the first 10 months in service. In-situ performance analysis shows that three of the six overlays suffered no cracking after 11 months in service. The three other overlays revealed a fine network of cracks whose progression ceased after eight months in service. After 11 months in service, none of the overlay have shown signs of debonding.

Online publication: 2004-12-20
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00
doi: 10.1617/2912143624.009