Title: Precast Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Barriers with Integrated Sidewalk

Author(s): Amadou Thiaw, Jean-Philippe Charron, and Bruno Massicotte

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 113

Issue: 1

Appears on pages(s): 39-50

Keywords: bridge; design optimization; fiber-reinforced concrete; finite element model; precast barrier with sidewalk

DOI: 10.14359/51688611

Date: 1/1/2016

Abstract:
Three concepts of bridge barriers with integrated sidewalk were designed, built, and tested. Two precast barriers were designed with high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC)—the former with a tensile strain-softening material and the latter with a tensile strain-hardening material. Use of HPFRC allowed a significant reduction of concrete sections and reinforcement of precast barriers. Moreover, a new connection method was developed to anchor barriers to the bridge slab. One high-performance concrete (HPC) cast-in-place barrier was also designed as a reference. All barriers were submitted to quasi-static transverse loading up to failure and exceeded CSA PL2 and AASHTO TL4 design load requirements. Finite element models used at the design process provided an accurate reproduction of test results in terms of stiffness, ultimate strength, cracking pattern, and displacement. A numerical parametric study was conducted with the validated models to evaluate the effect of key economical and construction characteristics of the precast barriers.