Design and Behavior of UHPFRC Field-Cast Transverse Connections between Precast Bridge Deck Elements

This research focuses on developing and measuring the mechanical behavior of ultrahigh-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC), transverse, field-cast connections between precast bridge deck elements. The connections had a closed shape, exposed aggregates, and lap splice length of 10 bar diameters (db). Three slab designs were considered: high-performance concrete (HPC), high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC), and hybrid HPFRC and UHPFRC. The first set of specimens was subjected to quasistatic loads up to failure, while the second set was subjected to cyclic fatigue loads prior to quasi-static loading to failure. Experimental results showed that all precast bridge decks with UHPFRC connections presented the same stiffness and ultimate strength as equivalent cast-in-place (CIP) slabs. Finite-elements models reproduced experimental results accurately and were used for predicting the mechanical behavior of continuous bridge slabs. Parametric studies demonstrated that, under various loading conditions, transverse UHPFRC field-cast connections do not modify the stiffness, ultimate strength, and failure mode of a slab differently than the equivalent CIP systems. (C) 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.