National Concrete Pavement Technology Center

Project description

Early-age cracking of concrete bridge decks and rails accelerates the penetration of water and chemicals into the concrete, which leads to reinforcement corrosion, delamination, and eventually spalling. This common deterioration problem results in shorter service life, road closures, and costly repairs/replacements. The early-age cracking of concrete decks and rails is primarily attributed to the drying shrinkage of restrained concrete immediately after construction. Concrete mixture design and curing procedure are key factors in reducing drying shrinkage and, consequently, early-age cracking.