Key Features:

• High Performance Concrete
• Record Type IV Prestressed Concrete I-Beam Lengths

This project is part of a federally funded research/construction project to evaluate the use of High Performance Concrete (HPC) in highway bridges. The project includes five spans of precast HPC Type IV beams of record length (152.33ft). Originally designed by TxDOT to utilize depressed and straight 0.6” dia. strands, the fabricator requested that PESC redesign these beams to utilize a combination of straight pretensioning and draped post-tensioning to facilitate fabrication.

The deflection-controlled design necessitated complex analyses to predict time dependent behavior. P.E. Structural worked closely with University of Texas researchers to accurately model the creep and shrinkage characteristics of the HPC mix.

One of the beams used in the structure was fully instrumented and monitored by researchers. This test beam provided invaluable insight into the instantaneous and long-term behavior of the high strength, long-span beams. PESC findings and design procedures were presented in technical papers at American Concrete Institute and Prestressed Concrete Institute conventions.

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