TITLE:
Ultra-High Performance Concrete: An Advanced Solution for Accelerated Bridge Pier Cap Rehabilitation and Bearing Replacement
AUTHORS:
Atul Patil
KEYWORDS:
Bridge, Pier Cap, Rehabilitation, Composition, Bearing, Strut, Tie, AASHTO
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Civil Engineering,
Vol.13 No.3,
September
1,
2023
ABSTRACT: The objective of this paper is to propose and illustrate feasibility,
approach, validation as per prevailing codes and design standards,
specification to rehabilitate bridge pier cap by using Ultra-High Performance
Concrete (UHPC). The evaluation of existing pier caps and bearings indicates
that the complete removal of existing bearing is undesirable due to 1) massive
size of bearing 2) difficulty in cutting through the thick components of
existing bearing 3) deeply anchored lower shoe of existing bearings 4) huge
cost and time required to erect temporary support system for superstructure to
facilitate the construction of new piers. To overcome these difficulties, UHPC could be cast around
the lower shoe up to the existing bearing pin. This UHPC cast could be used to
support jacks and temporary bearings. The new low height permanent bearing
could then be installed after removing the upper shoe of the existing bearing.
In the present research, first properties of UHPC are summarized followed by
evaluation of case studies to check feasibility of the solution to rehabilitate
pier cap by using UHPC. The complex load paths in pier cap are idealized by
using validated strut and tie model as per prevailing AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design
Specification.