In-Service Performance of High-Performance Concrete Bridge Decks

The current statewide standard for New York State bridge decks is Class HP (high-performance) concrete. This mix was introduced in April 1996 to increase deck durability by reducing cracking and permeability. Since its introduction, more than 80 bridge decks have been built with Class HP concrete. To compare the performance of Class HP concrete with that of previously specified concrete, the decks were visually inspected. Results indicated that Class HP decks performed better than previously specified concrete in resisting both longitudinal and transverse cracking. Furthermore, of the 84 decks inspected, 49 percent exhibited no cracking at all, but of those that had cracked, 88 percent exhibited equal or less longitudinal cracking and 80 percent exhibited equal or less transverse cracking than previously specified concrete. A final result showed that average transverse crack density on Class HP decks, excluding uncracked decks, was 6.9 cm/m². This value is comparable with crack densities for other decks (not using HP mix) that were reported in recent literature.