Cracking Mechanism and Repair Techniques of Epoxy Asphalt on Steel Bridge Deck Pavement

Abstract

Epoxy asphalt concrete is widely used for long-span steel bridge deck pavement in China. Because of the heavy traffic load and extreme climatic conditions, epoxy asphalt deck pavement tends to develop cracks, debonding, and potholes and needs reconstructing typically after 5 to 10 years. Research was performed on the cracking mechanism under both traffic and thermal loads, with the aim of finding the best sealing material. The performances of various crack-sealing materials, including workability, mechanical property, and durability, were evaluated. Test methods such as the simplified penetration ability test and bending fatigue test were employed for rating the crack-sealing materials. Experimental results revealed that the traditional crack-sealing materials, such as bitumen modified with styrene–butadiene–styrene, rubber bitumen, bitumen emulsion, and solvent bitumen, cannot meet the requirements for repairing epoxy asphalt on long-span bridge decks because of the low penetration ability and low adhesive strength. Results showed that cracks could be repaired well with epoxy resin–sealing materials, which showed great penetration ability, high bond strength, large deformation capacity, and short curing time.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Chen

J.-S.

, Chen

S.-F.

, and Liao

M.-C.

. Design, Construction, and Performance of Mastic Asphalt Concrete for Orthotropic Bridge Deck. Presented at 92nd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2013.

Pan

, Zhang

, and Cao

. Research on ERS Steel Deck Pavement Techniques. Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Vol. 7, No. 40, 2012, pp. 1260–1264.

, Guan

, and Jia

. Research on Long-Term Behavior of Epoxy Asphalt Deck Surfacing. Chinese and Foreign Highway, Vol. 6, No. 30, 2010, pp. 230–233.

Han

, Li

, and Jia

. Research of Epoxy Asphalt Steel Deck Pavement Disease Based on Normal Inspection. Highway Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 36, 2011, pp. 50–54.

, and Qian

. Disease Analysis and Classification of the Representative Pavement on Steel Deck. Journal of Transportation Engineering and Information, Vol. 2, No. 14, 2006, pp. 110–115.

Qian

, and He

. Performance Test of Rapid Repair Material for Cracking on Steel Deck Surfacing. Journal of Southeast University, Vol. 2, No. 38, 2008, pp. 255–259.

, Qian

, and Wang

. Research on Failure Treatment Technique and Epoxy Asphalt Concrete Steel Deck Bridge Surfacing. Transportation Science and Technology, Vol. 5, No. 224, 2007, pp. 42–44.

Himeno

, and Nishizawa

. Longitudinal Surface Cracking in Asphalt Pavements on Steel Bridge Decks Related to Dissipated Energy. Chuo University, Tokyo, 2002.

Johnson

D. R.

, Freeman

R. B.

, and Stevenson

J. R.

. Cost-Effectiveness of Crack Sealing Materials and Techniques for Asphalt Pavement. In Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1697, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 2000, pp. 31–40.

10.

Chavel

Steel Bridge Design Handbook—Bridge Deck Design, Vol. 17. FHWA-IF-12-052. FHWA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Nov. 2012.

11.

Zhao

, Qian

, Qi

, Mei

, Liu

, Xu

, and Zane

. A Novel Wireless Multisensor Network System for Steel Bridge Fatigue Crack Monitoring. Presented at 92nd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2013.

12.

, Liu

, Scarpas

, Tzimiris

, Kasbergen

, Hofman

, and Voskuilen

. Analysis of Five-Point Bending Test for Multilayer Surfacing System on Orthotropic Steel Bridges. In Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2370, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2013, pp. 137–144.

13.

Hiroyuki

Design and Construction of Bridge Deck Pavement. Kaijima Press, Tokyo, 1996.

14.

Technical Guide for Design and Construction of Bridge Deck Pavement. Chongqing Communications Research and Design Institute, Chongqing, China, 2006.

15.

Virginia Test Method – 101: Determination of Penetration of Gravity Filled Polymer Crack Sealers – (Physical Lab). Virginia Department of Transportation, Richmond, Nov. 1, 2000.

16.

Research on Epoxy Asphalt Steel Deck Pavement Maintenance Technology for Long-Span Bridge in Jiangsu Province. Jiangsu Transportation Institute, Nanjing, China, 2012.