Title: Barges Topped with Abrasion Resistant Concrete

Author(s): H. R. Woodhead

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 126

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1185-1196

Keywords: abrasion resistance; concrete construction; silica fume; high-strength concretes; reinforced concretes; water reducing agents; General

DOI: 10.14359/3824

Date: 8/1/1991

Abstract:
Steel barges are often used by British Columbia's forest industry to carry wood chips. Generally, these chips have been offloaded at pulp mills by overhead gantry cranes using grab buckets. In time, this has severely damaged and dented the decks. The industry has recently realized considerable savings by changing the method of offloading so that the chips are placed on conveyors by front-end loaders. In 1989, a barge operator decided to upgrade his existing barge fleet to utilize the new method. This meant that new, smoother decks had to be constructed. The project was tendered with two alternatives: one using a new steel deck and the other a concrete topping. During the tender period, an alternate type of concrete deck was proposed that proved to be substantially cheaper. The method consisted of welding steel studs to the existing deck, placing reinforcement, and pouring a high-strength (55 Mpa) steel fiber reinforced concrete. This is expected to provide improved durability and abrasion resistance.