The composite action of a bridge deck and girder is essential to the optimization of the superstructure. The transfer of forces in the deck to the girders is done across a shear interface between the two elements. The transfer occurs through the cohesion of the concrete at the interface and then through the shear reinforcement across the interface. Adequate shear strength is essential to the success of the superstructure. A collection of 537 horizontal shear tests comprised the database for the study of various concrete types and interface surface treatments. The predicted horizontal shear strength calculated from the AASHTO LFRD bridge design code was compared to the measured shear strength. The professional bias was computed for each specimen. The professional biases, standard deviations, and coefficients of variation for each category were calculated. The material properties factor along with fabrication factor was researched. The loading factors were researched and calculated for use in calculating the reliability index. The final step was to compute the reliability index for each category. The process was repeated to learn the reliability of the equation proposed by Wallenfelsz. The results showed that the reliability index for the AASHTO LRFD horizontal shear strength equation wash much lower than the desired target reliability index of 3.5. The reliability index for the Wallenfelsz equation was higher but still not close to the target reliability index. / Master of Science

Full-depth precast deck panels are a promising alternative to the conventional cast-in-place concrete deck. They afford reduced construction time and fewer burdens on the motoring public. In order to provide designers guidance on the design of full-depth precast slab systems with their full composite strength, the horizontal shear resistance provided at the slab-to-beam interface must be quantified through further investigation. Currently, all design equations, both in the AASHTO Specifications and the ACI code, are based upon research for cast-in-place slabs. The introduction of a grouted interface between the slab and beam can result in different shear resistances than those predicted by current equations. A total of 29 push off tests were performed to quantify peak and post-peak shear stresses at the failure interface. The different series of tests investigated the surface treatment of the bottom of the slab, the type and amount of shear connector and a viable alternative pocket detail. Based on the research performed changes to the principles of the shear friction theory as presented in the AASHTO LRFD specifications are proposed. The proposal is to break the current equation into two equation that separate coulomb friction and cohesion. Along with these changes, values for the coefficient of friction and cohesion for the precast deck panel system are proposed. / Master of Science

Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Robert Peterman / A flowable hybrid concrete mix with a spread of 17 to 20 inches was created with a superplasticizer to be used in post-tension haunch-slab (PTHS) bridges where rebar congestion is heaviest. The mix would allow for proper concrete consolidation. A conventional concrete mix with a slump of three to four inches was also created to be placed on top of the hybrid mix. The conventional mix would be used to create a sloping surface on the top of the concrete. The two mixes could be combined in the PTHS bridge deck and act as one monolithic specimen. Standard concrete tests such as compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, permeability, freeze/thaw resistance, and coefficient of thermal expansion were determined for the mixes and compared. Core blocks were cast using both mixes and composite cores were drilled. The cores were tested and their composite split-tensile strengths were compared to the split-tensile strengths of cylinders made from the respective mixes. A third concrete mix was made by increasing the superplasticizer dosage in the hybrid concrete mix to create a self-consolidating concrete (SCC) mix with a 24-inch spread. The SCC mix was created as a worst-case scenario and used in the determination of shear friction. Eighty-four push-off shear friction specimens were cast using the SCC mix. Joint conditions for the specimens included uncracked, pre-cracked, and cold-joints. Uncracked and pre-cracked specimens used both epoxy- and non-epoxy-coated shear stirrups. Cold-joint specimens used both the SCC mix and the conventional concrete mix. Joint-conditions of the cold-joint specimens included a one-hour cast time, a seven-day joint with a clean shear interface, and a seven-day joint with an oiled shear interface. The shear friction specimens were tested using a pure shear method and their results were compared to the current American Concrete Institute code equation.

The shear behavior of a specimen made of reinforced concrete is complex. The resisting mechanisms are affected by different factors such as section form, slimness of the specimen, longitudinal and transversal reinforcement arrangement, adhesion between concrete and steel, among others. Addition of steel fibers to the concrete improves the ductility as well as the tensile behavior; providing good control during the cracking process. Fibers also enhance the shear behavior of structural elements, increasing ultimate resistance and ductility. Push-off tests had been used to study the mechanisms of concrete shear transfer. Shear strength of the specimen depends on the contribution of both concrete and reinforcement. Aggregate interlock has a significant contribution to the concrete shear capacity. In the last decades new kinds of concrete have been developed for industrial use, such as high strength concrete (HSC), self-compacting concrete (SCC) or fiber reinforced concrete (FRC), among others. In these new materials aggregate interlock phenomenon may be different when compared to conventional concrete (CC). There is a lack of information in literature about the mechanisms of shear transfer in fiber reinforced concrete elements. / Echegaray Oviedo, JA. (2014). Upgrading the push-off test to analyze the contribution of steel fiber on shear transfer mechanisms [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/43723 / TESIS

Yes / This paper presents an integrated model for shear friction strength of monolithic concrete interfaces derived from the upper-bound theorem of concrete plasticity. The model accounts for the effects of applied axial stresses and transverse reinforcement on the shear friction action at interfacial shear cracks. Simple equations were also developed to generalize the effectiveness factor for compression, ratio of effective tensile to compressive strengths and angle of concrete friction. The reliability of the proposed model was then verified through comparisons with previous empirical equations and 103 push-off test specimens compiled from different sources in the literature. The previous equations considerably underestimate the concrete shear transfer capacity and the underestimation is notable for the interfaces subjected to additional axial stresses. The proposed model provides superior accuracy in predicting the shear friction strength, resulting in a mean between experimental and predicted friction strengths of 0.97 and least scatter. Moreover, the proposed model has consistent trends with test results in evaluating the effect of various parameters on the shear friction strength.

Precast girders and cast-in-place decks are a typical type of concrete bridge construction. A key part of this type of construction is developing composite action between the girder and deck. In order to develop composite action, adequate horizontal shear resistance must be provided at the interface. As lightweight concrete is increasingly being used in bridge designs, it is important to understand the horizontal shear behavior of lightweight concrete. The current AASHTO LRFD Specification provides design equations for horizontal shear strength of both lightweight and normal weight concrete. Thirty-six push-off tests were performed to determine if the current code equations accurately predict the horizontal shear strength of precast girders and cast-in-place decks for both normal weight and lightweight concrete. The different test series investigated effects from lightweight and normal weight concrete used for the girder/slab combination and the quantity of shear reinforcement provided across the interface. The test results were compared to the results predicted by current design equations. A structural reliability analysis was performed and the test-to-predicted statistics were used to define LRFD resistance factors and quantify the probability of failure. The current design equations were found to be conservative and more conservative for lightweight concrete than for normal weight concrete. / Master of Science

<p dir="ltr">Reinforced concrete elements are vulnerable to sliding against each other when shear forces are transmitted between them. Shear-friction is the mechanism by which shear is transferred between concrete surfaces. It develops by aggregate interlock between the concrete interfaces while reinforcement crossing the shear interface or normal force due to external loads contributes to the shear resistance. Current design provisions used in the United States (ACI 318-19, AASHTO LRFD (2020), and the PCI Design Handbook (2017)) include design expression for shear-friction capacity. However, the value of the reinforcement yield strength input into the expressions is limited to a maximum of 60 ksi. Furthermore, the concrete strength is not incorporated into the primary design expressions. These limits cause the potential contribution of high-strength reinforcement and high-strength concrete in shear-friction applications from being considered. Therefore, a research program was developed to investigate the possibility of improving current shear-friction design practice and addressing these current limits.</p><p dir="ltr">Specifically, an experimental program was conducted to evaluate the influence of high-strength reinforcement and high-strength concrete on shear-friction strength. In addition, a statistical analysis was performed using a comprehensive shear-frication database comprised of past tests available in the literature. The experimental program consisted of two phases. Phase I included 24 push-off specimens to study the influence of the yield strength of the interface reinforcement (Grade 60 and Grade 100) and the number and size of interface reinforcing bars (6-No.4 and 4-No. 5 bars) with three different interface conditions (rough, smooth, and shear-key). Phase II included 20 push-off specimens with rough interfaces to investigate the influence of the yield strength of the interface reinforcement (Grade 60 and Grade 100) and concrete strength (target strengths of 4000 psi and 8000 psi). The influence of these two variables was observed over a range of reinforcement ratios (ρ = 0.55%, 0.83%, 1.11%, and 1.38%).</p><p dir="ltr">The test results showed that the overall shear-friction strength was the greatest for rough interface specimens, followed by specimens detailed with shear keys. The smooth interface specimens had the lowest strengths. The results of both phases of the experimental program indicated that the use of high-strength reinforcement did not improve shear-friction capacity.</p><p dir="ltr">Furthermore, the results from the Phase II tests showed that increasing the concrete compressive strength led to increased shear-friction capacity. The test results from the experimental program were analyzed and compared with current design provisions, which demonstrated room for improvement of current design practice.</p><p dir="ltr">Following the experimental program, a comprehensive shear-friction database was analyzed, and multilinear regression was used to create a model to predict shear-friction strength. Factors were then applied to the model to provide acceptable design expressions for shear-friction strength (less than 5% unconservative estimates). The database was used to evaluate the factored model and current design provisions.</p><p dir="ltr">The research outcomes, especially the expressions for shear-friction strength that were developed and that include consideration of the concrete compression strength, along with the shear-friction tests demonstrating the lack of strength gain with the use of Grade 100 reinforcement, provide valuable information for the concrete community to help direct efforts toward improving current shear-friction design practice.</p>

The thesis is divided into seven parts. The first part is theoretical and consists of description of load-transfer method and its principal, description of load-transfer curves used for following inverse analysis and method for determining shaft friction in ß method. In the second part, there is an explanation of the determination of Ménard pressuremeter modulus from pressuremeter tests. The third part consists of the pressuremeter tests analysis and description of evaluating process of the pressuremeter modulus for different types of subsoil. In the fourth part states parametric study of load-transfer curves compiled on the basis of the pressuremeter tests, where we display an impact of input parameters on a load-settlement curves. The fifth part contains inverse analysis of pile load tests, which are set in similar geological conditions. Summary of used input parameters for individual load-transfer curves states in the sixth part. These parameters are responsible of achieving the best match of predicted and measured load-settlement curves. The last part is devoted to the thesis conclusion, which is the determination of parameters as inputs to the shape of load-transfer curves for bored piles with utilization of the pressuremeter tests.

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a new class of concrete characterized by no coarse aggregate, steel fiber reinforcement, low w/c, low permeability, compressive strength exceeding 29,000 psi (200 MPa), tensile strength ranging from 1,200 to 2,500 psi (8 to 17 MPa), and very high toughness. These properties make prestressed precast UHPC bridge girders a very attractive replacement material for steel bridge girders, particularly when site demands require a comparable beam depth to steel and a 100+ year life span is desired. In order to efficiently utilize UHPC in bridge construction, it is necessary to create new design recommendations for its use. The interface between precast UHPC girder and cast-in-place concrete decks must be characterized in order to safely use composite design methods with this new material. Due to the lack of reinforcing bars, all shear forces in UHPC girders have to be carried by the concrete and steel fibers. Current U.S. codes do not consider fiber reinforcement in calculating shear capacity. Fiber contribution must be accurately accounted for in shear equations in order to use UHPC. Casting of UHPC may cause fibers to orient in the direction of casting. If fibers are preferentially oriented, physical properties of the concrete may also become anisotropic, which must be considered in design. The current research provides new understanding of shear and shear friction phenomena in UHPC including: *Current AASHTO codes provide a non-conservative estimate of interface shear performance of smooth UHPC interfaces with and without interface steel. *Fluted interfaces can be created by impressing formliners into the surface of plastic UHPC. AASHTO and ACI codes for roughened interfaces are conservative for design of fluted UHPC interfaces. *A new equation for the calculation of shear capacity of UHPC girders is presented which takes into account the contribution of steel fiber reinforcement. *Fibers are shown to preferentially align in the direction of casting, which significantly affects compressive behavior of the UHPC.