Application of high-performance fibre reinforced concrete to precast girders for road bridges: Conceptual considerations and numerical analyses

High-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) can be considered a promising material for the construction of precast concrete girders for road bridges. This paper presents conceptual considerations and numerical analysis to support this statement. The HPFRC is a compromised alternative between FRC and UHPFRC mixes. Specifically, a tailor-made mix design of HPFRC jointly developed by ACCIONA and the authors is presented, and then compared with the other types of fiber-reinforced concretes collected from the technical literature. In addition, some trends observed in the database are described. This material characterization is followed by a conceptual analysis of the advantages of the application of HPFRC to road bridges. Specifically, a proposed bridge for the case of a 60 m-span box girder is analyzed. A comparison between alternatives based on the use of HPFRC and conventional reinforced concrete is discussed. The results shed light on the viability of this material for bridge application. Specifically, the main finding show potential significant material savings in structural elements of the superstructure. Finally, ongoing and future research for a wide application to the construction sector are briefly discussed.

Automated summary

High-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) is a promising material for precast concrete girders for road bridges. This paper presents a mix design of HPFRC developed by ACCIONA and the authors, and compares it with other types of fiber-reinforced concretes. The advantages of applying HPFRC to road bridges are analyzed, and the results show potential material savings in superstructure elements. Ongoing and future research for wider application to the construction sector are briefly discussed.