This project investigates the durability problems regarding concrete bridge decks in transportation applications. There is a big effort regarding increasing the lifetime of bridges and solving durability problems like corrosion and freeze-thaw in transportation infrastructure. This research program will support identifying, characterizing, and implementing advanced materials for reinforced concrete systems in a multi-disciplinary and consistent manner across materials, structural applications, and deterioration mechanisms for a variety of transportation infrastructure systems and specifically studies three different advanced ductile concrete systems including ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), hybrid fiber reinforced concrete (HyFRC) and engineered cementitious composite (ECC) also, Investigates alternative reinforcement including epoxy-coated rebar, low carbon- chromium steel (ChromX), stainless steel, and galvanized rebar. As a leading cause of transportation infrastructure deterioration, chloride-induced corrosion will be studied in this portion of the research using reinforced concrete samples that are ponded with a sodium chloride solution following the provisions of ASTM G109. This test method is widely accepted to evaluate the corrosion performance of reinforcing bars in various concrete materials. Three main variables will be considered in this portion of the study: (i) concrete system, (ii) reinforcing material, and (iii) initial condition. The intent of these variables is to identify how systematic changes will influence the corrosion performance of different reinforced concrete systems. Beyond the previously outlined corrosion experiments, additional durability testing will also be conducted on all of the advanced concrete systems and compared to baseline ordinary concrete mixtures. This testing will include drying shrinkage (ASTM C157), cyclic freezing and thawing (ASTM C666), and salt scaling (ASTM C672). The intent of these experiments is to ensure that improvements in corrosion performance do not negatively impact other modes of deterioration.

Publications

Under Preparation

Related Current and Prior Research Sponsors

New Jersey Department of Transportation, "Advanced Reinforced Concrete Materials for Transportation Infrastructures," June 2018 - Dec 2021, PI: Matthew J. Bandelt, Co-PI: Matthew P. Adams

US Department of Transportation - Region 2 UTC, "Comparative Analysis of Rapid Chloride Penetration Testing for Novel Reinforced Concrete Systems," May 2021 - April 2022 PI: Matthew J. Bandelt, Co-PI: Matthew P. Adams

Research Assistants And Students

Ph.D.: Jin Fan, Seyed Masoud Shirkhorshidi

M.S.: Daniel Calabro, Zachary Keator

B.S.: Luke Araza, Conan Cullen, Matthew Laub, Sebastian Mercado

Collaborators

Dr. Andrew Bechtel, The College of New Jersey

Dr. Edward Moffatt, WSP in Canada

Dr. Husam Najm, Rutgers University

Dr. Hao Wang, Rutgers University

Publications

Jayasuriya, A, MP Adams, and MJ Bandelt (2020). “Generation and Numerical Analysis of Random Aggregate Structures in Recycled Concrete Aggregate Systems.” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. 32(4). DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0003113.

Jayasuriya, A^#, MP Adams, and MJ Bandelt (2018). “Understanding Variability in Recycled Aggregate Concrete Mechanical Properties through Numerical Simulation and Statistical Evaluation.” Construction and Building Materials, 178: 301-312. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.05.158.

Related Current and Prior Research Sponsors

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, "Low Carbon Concrete Pilot Program," April 2021-April 2022, PI: Matthew P. Adams, Co-PI: Matthew J. Bandelt, Hao Wang (Rutgers University), Reza Moini (Princeton University)

US Department of Transportation Region 2 UTC, "Designing Concrete Mixtures with RCA," December 2019 - May 2021, PI: Matthew P. Adams, Co-PI: Matthew J. Bandelt

American Concrete Institute Foundation, "Development of Guidelines for use of Recycled Concrete Aggregates," August 2018 - August 2019, PI: Matthew P. Adams, Co-PI: Matthew P. Adams

Research Assistants and Students

Ph.D.: Anuruddha Jayasuriya, Noah Thibodeaux

M.S.: Bushra Islam

B.S.: Tola Chen, Marco Fernandez, Emily Shibata

Collaborators

Dr. Jason H. Ideker, Oregon State University

Dr. Jennifer Tanner Eisenhower, University of Wyoming

Dr. Benoit Fournier, Université Laval

Dr. O. Burkan Isgor, Oregon State University

Kate Mikuliak, NYC Department of Transportation

Dr. Medhat Shehata, Ryerson University

Alternative cement systems are gaining attention for special uses due to their more economical environmental impact, rapid strength gain, and special hydration properties. MatSLab currently has two different projects in this area: (1) focused on the conversion process of Calcium Aluminate Cements (CAC) and (2) use of high ettringite producing cements for usage in thermochemical energy storage.

Rapid repair materials are starting to become commonly found for bridge and pavement repairs due to their high early strength gain resulting in a reducing in lane or road closure times. CAC systems gain high early strength and are useful in cold weather climates there these systems will still set and gain strength at temperatures even approaching freezing. These systems undergo a unique process where the initially formed metastable hydrates convert to a denser more stable form. The denser stable hydrates result in an increase in porosity within the concrete and a corresponding loss of strength. This project focuses on understanding the strength loss through mechanical testing when the conversion process is promoted and if the novel non-destructive testing method of electrical resistivity can detect the conversion of the CAC concrete.

Alternative cement systems such as Calcium sulfoaluminate cement and blended CAC systems that produce ettringite as the main hydrate are being studied as a possible method for thermochemical energy storage. While ettringite is rare in nature ettringite is commonly found cementitious systems. For use in thermochemical energy storage the water is removed from the ettringite crystal and in ideal conditions turns to a low water state termed meta-ettringite. Energy is released through an exothermic reaction when water is re-added to the system. For use as an energy storage medium understanding the hysteresis of the dehydration and rehydration of the ettringite crystal is paramount. If the ettringite decomposes to other forms the reversibility of the system is lost. The goal of this research proposed is to examine three cement systems for their stability when dehydrated at different temperatures and assess and quantify the deterioration or decomposition within the system. This stability work is being done on larger macro sized cube specimens as well as chemical analysis of the dehydrated and rehydrated states through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS).

Publications

Under preparation

Related Current and Prior Research Sponsors

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, "Low Carbon Concrete Pilot Program," April 2021-April 2022, PI: Matthew P. Adams, Co-PI: Matthew J. Bandelt, Hao Wang (Rutgers University), Reza Moini (Princeton University)

US Department of Transportation Region 2 UTC, "Durability of Low Carbon Concrete Mixtures," June 2021-June 2022, PI: Matthew P. Adams, Co-PI: Matthew J. Bandelt

Research Assistants and Students

Collaborators

Dr. Perumasalmy Balaguru, Rutgers University

Dr. Husam Najm, Rutgers University

Dr. Reza Moini, Princeton University

Dr. Hao Wang, Rutgers University

In order to maintain safe roadway conditions chloride deicer brines are applied to roadway surfaces. Bridge decks are of particular concern due to their susceptibility to freezing before surface roads resulting in large quantities of brine being applied. Overtime the chlorides diffuse into the concrete which results in corrosion of the imbedded reinforcement. Loading conditions on bridge decks may contribute to an increased presence of cracks, which can greatly accelerate the ingress process. Current laboratory testing does not take into consideration a deck in this cracked state and the impact that this may have on the deck exhibiting corrosion earlier than anticipated. The objective of this research was to examine the impact of corrosion on lab cast specimens and was used as guidance for work on a full scale sized specimen. Analysis of corrosion initiation time in lab cast specimens was done through testing the macro-cell currents between embedded reinforcement of block specimens in the cracked and un-cracked states when subjected to different levels of brine concentrations. Laboratory specimens underwent cyclic chloride ponding cycles while in either the cracked or un-cracked state. The full sized bridge deck specimen was subjected to dynamic loading, freezing and thawing, and a chloride brine. Chloride ingress into the specimens was determined through acid soluble chloride analysis of collected powder profiles. The results from this work is to be combined with non-destructive testing of the full sized bridge deck specimen to develop a better understanding of the relationship between laboratory and full scale samples exposed to accelerated deterioration methods.

Publications

Under preparation

Related Current and Prior Research Sponsors

US Department of Transportation - Region 2 UTC, "Comparative Analysis of Rapid Chloride Penetration Testing for Novel Reinforced Concrete Systems," May 2021 to April 2022, PI: Matthew J. Bandelt, Co-PI: Matthew P. Adams

US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, "Long-Term Infrastructure Performance Testing," October 2018 - April 2021 PI (NJIT): Matthew J. Bandelt Co-PI: Matthew P Adams, Franklin Moon (Rutgers, Overall Lead PI)

US Department of Transportation - Region 2 UTC, "Sustainability and Resiliency of Concrete Rapid Repairs Utilizing Advanced Cementitious Materials – Freeze/Thaw Loads," September 2018 to August 2019, PI: Matthew J. Bandelt, Co-PI: Matthew P. Adams

US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, "Long-Term Bridge Performance: TSSC Task Order 1 - Data Gap Analysis," December 2017 - March 2019 PI (NJIT): Matthew J. Bandelt Co-PI: Matthew P Adams, Franklin Moon (Rutgers, Overall Lead PI)

US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, "Long-Term Bridge Performance: TSSC Task Order 2 - Bridge Performance Strategic Research Matrices, Protocols, and Publications," December 2017 - November 2019 PI (NJIT): Matthew P. Adams Co-PI: Matthew J. Bandelt, Franklin Moon (Rutgers, Overall Lead PI)

US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, "Review and Assessment of Long-Term Bridge Performance Program Research Methodology," December 2017 - June 2017 PI (NJIT): Matthew J. Bandelt Co-PI: Matthew P Adams, Franklin Moon (Rutgers, Overall Lead PI)

Research Assistants and Students

Ph.D.: Marwa Korayem, Mandeep Pokhrel, Aaron J. Strand, Noah Thibodeaux

M.S.: Stephen George

B.S.: George Ulerio II

Collaborators

Dr. Franklin Moon, Rutgers University

OVERVIEW OF WORK

Publications

Related Current and Prior Sponsors

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, "Low Carbon Concrete Pilot Program," April 2021-April 2022, PI: Matthew P. Adams, Co-PI: Matthew J. Bandelt, Hao Wang (Rutgers University), Reza Moini (Princeton University)

US Department of Transportation Region 2 UTC, "Durability of Low Carbon Concrete Mixtures," June 2021-June 2022, PI: Matthew P. Adams, Co-PI: Matthew J. Bandelt

US Department of Transportation - Region 2 UTC, "Sustainability and Resiliency of Concrete Rapid Repairs Utilizing Advanced Cementitious Materials – Freeze/Thaw Loads," September 2018 to August 2019, PI: Matthew J. Bandelt, Co-PI: Matthew P. Adams

Research Assistants and Students

Ph.D.: Marwa Korayem, Aaron J. Strand, Noah Thibodeaux

B.S. (and High School Interns): Herbert Opoku, Tiffany Sayey, George Ulerio II,

Collaborators

Dr. Charles Alt, Imerys

Dr. Perumasalmy Balaguru, Rutgers University

Dr. Tyler Deboodt, Oregon State University

Dr. Tengfei Fu, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University

Dr. Jason H. Ideker, Oregon State University

Dr. Rachael Lute, UT Austin

Dr. Edward Moffatt, WSP in Canada

Dr. Karen Scrivener, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Dr. Michael D. A. Thomas, University of New Brunswick

OVERVIEW OF WORK

Publications

Tariq, H, EA Jampole, and MJ Bandelt (2021). “Development and Application of Spring Hinge Models to Simulate Reinforced Ductile Concrete Structural Components under Cyclic Loading.” Journal of Structural Engineering. 147(2): 04020322. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002891.

Pokhrel, M, and MJ Bandelt (2019). “Plastic Hinge Behavior and Rotation Capacity in Reinforced Ductile Concrete Flexural Members.” Engineering Structures. 200: 109699. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.109699.

Pokhrel, M, and MJ Bandelt (2019). “Material Properties and Structural Characteristics Influencing Reinforced HPFRCC Deformation Capacity and Plasticity.” Composite Structures. 224: 111013. DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2019.111013.

Nguyen, W, MJ Bandelt, W Trono, SL Billington, and CP Ostertag (2019). “Mechanics and Failure Characteristics of Hybrid Fiber-reinforced Concrete (HyFRC) Composites with Longitudinal Steel Reinforcement.” Engineering Structures, 183: 243-254. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.12.087.

Tariq, H, EA Jampole, and MJ Bandelt (2019). “Fiber-hinge Modeling of Engineered Cementitious Composite Flexural Members under Large Deformations.” Engineering Structures, 182: 62-78. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.11.076.

Bandelt, MJ, and SL Billington (2018). “Simulation of Displacement Capacity of Reinforced High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composite Flexural Members.” Journal of Structural Engineering, 144(10): 04018188. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002174.

Bandelt, MJ, TE Frank, MD Lepech, and SL Billington (2017). “Bond Behavior and Interface Modeling of High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites.” Cement and Concrete Composites, 83: 188-201. DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2017.07.017.

Bandelt, MJ and SL Billington (2016). “Impact of Reinforcement Ratio and Loading Type on the Deformation Capacity of High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites Reinforced with Mild Steel.” Journal of Structural Engineering, 142(10): 04016084. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0001562.

Bandelt, MJ, and SL Billington (2016). “Bond Behavior of Steel Reinforcement in High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composite Flexural Members.” Materials and Structures, 49(1): 71-86. DOI: 10.1617/s11527-014-0475-4.

Research Assistants and Students

Ph.D.: Mandeep Pokhrel, Hasan Tariq

M.S. Adam Baba Abdulai, Daniel Calabro

Collaborators

Dr. Ezra Jampole, Exponent

Dr. Sarah L. Billington, Stanford University

Dr. Claudia P. Ostertag, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Wilson Nguyen, Wiss Janey Elstner Associates

Dr. Yi Shao, University of California, Berkeley