Ultra-highly Dispersing PCE for UHPC Applied to Moshuihe Bridge in Shandong Prov
Release time: 2023/06/19 Publisher： original Views：
Introduction
Ultra-highly Dispersing Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer(PCE) for Ultra-High Performance Concrete(UHPC), the outcome of 2022 NEXCEL Project TDA3-1 Research and Application of Novel Polyether macromonomer and Ultra-highly Dispersing Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer, implemented by China Building Materials Academy (CBMA) and CNBM Zhongyan Technology (Zhongyan), has been successfully demonstrated in the deck paving of Moshuihe Bridge in Shandong Province.
Research Background
In bridge engineering, UHPC is primarily used in main beam structures, main arches of arch bridges, waffle board bridge deck structures, bridge joints and strengthening of existing bridges. It can significantly reduce the stress amplitude, and improve the stiffness of steel bridge decks, preventing pathologies such as cracking, rutting, and delamination in the pavement layer, and enhancing the traffic capacity and structural safety of bridges. Typically, UHPC requires the addition of materials like silica fume and microspheres to improve compactness, as well as the incorporation of fibers to increase toughness. Furthermore, the application of a high-performance water reducer effectively reduces the water-binder ratio while maintaining good fluidity, thereby enhancing the strength of UHPC across the whole life cycle. With novel polyether macromonomer and Ultra-highly Dispersing PCE, project team successfully achieved the ultra-high dispersing effect of water reducer molecules on binders under low water-binder ratio.
Application in Bridge Deck Paving
Moshuihe Bridge is a steel cable-stayed bridge of 310 meters long and 39.5 meters wide with a maximum span of 90 meters. It is classified as an arterial road and a highway of Class I, designed for a speed of 50 kilometers per hour. The pavement is designed to withstand the BZZ-100 standard axial load. After studying the UHPC pre-mixed materials, project team proposed the optimal synthesis process and dosage of Ultra-highly Dispersing PCE for UHPC, considering the characteristics of Super Toughness Concrete (STC) bridge deck paving. Consequently, the workability of UHPC was improved, achieving an initial slump over 700 mm, a 40% decrease in concrete viscosity, and an increase of ultimate compressive strength to 180 MPa under an extremely low water-cement ratio.
Expected Benefits
The Ultra-highly Dispersing PCE for UHPC, enabling the ultra-highly dispersing effect of binders under extremely low water-binder ratio, reducing the consumption of binders and water-binder ratio, lowers carbon emissions, improves the comprehensive performance of UHPC and significantly reduces the cost. Moreover, the extensive use of petrochemical products in the production of Ultra-highly Dispersing PCE will drive the extension of petrochemical industry, promoting its development towards multiple fields, high added value, and customization.