Numerical Prediction of Early-Age Cracking and Corrosion in High Performance Concrete Bridges - Case Study

Abstract

This paper presents an evaluation of the effectiveness and the benefits of using high-performance concrete (HPC) containing corrosion inhibitors in the construction and repair of concrete bridges. It presents numerical models for predicting the early-age and in-service performance of HPC bridge structures. The proposed models focus on the problems of early-age cracking, chloride ingress into concrete and corrosion of the conventional reinforcing steel. A case study of reinforced concrete (RC) barriers walls is used to illustrate the predictive capabilities of the models and the benefits of using HPC in extending the service life of bridge structures.