Implementation of Database Management Techniques for Determining Probable Causesof Full-Depth Transverse Cracks in Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks

摘要

Bridge decks constructed recently in Mississippi have been plagued by full-depthcracks, running transverse to the direction of traffic. These cracks are suspected to have been caused by restrained drying shrinkage and restrained thermal shrinkage. In order to ascertain contributing factors to the restrained shrinkage, a bridge deck database system was developed and implemented. The database system permitted quick access to bridge inventory data, inspection data, concrete materials data, and construction data. Approximately 400 bridges, built over the past 15 years were inspected. Concrete materials records and construction records were sought for each of these bridges. The following observations are based on queries from the database system. Bridge decks constructed over the past five years exhibited more full-depth transverse cracks than the older bridge decks. Bridge decks that were members of continuous spans exhibited more cracks than simply-supported bridge decks. Concrete with high water-cement ratios and low cement factors exhibited more cracks than concrete with low water-cement ratios and high cement factors.