Author: Matthew D. Manus

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13:

Elastomeric concrete has recently emerged as a new material in bridge expansion joint construction. However, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) does not currently have a quality control/assurance program addressing elastomeric concrete. The purpose of this report is to analyze elastomeric concrete so as to determine a quality control program for the NCDOT. In this study, site visits were made to fresh installations throughout North Carolina to obtain sample elastomeric concrete mixed in the field. Those same sites were revisited to obtain material from the same expansion joint after at least 4 months in-service. When revisited, samples were obtained through means of coring. Cored sample test data could then be compared to the fresh sampling data to determine changes in physical properties with time. Older existing joints (over 5 years in-service life) were also identified and sampled to determine the physical property changes associated with long-term cyclic loading and environmental weathering. To further understand the changes in physical properties due to weathering, a durability testing program was implemented. A total of 432 specimens were subjected to freeze-thaw, moisture-induced damage, and oil swell conditioning in this phase. The research performed within this study presents a foundation for establishing a comprehensive quality control/assurance program for elastomeric concrete used in the state of North Carolina.