ABSTRACT
Repair of corroded steel girder ends is a costly and time-consuming issue in the maintenance of highway bridges. Through a collaboration between the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the University of Connecticut, a repair method using Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) beam end encasement has been developed and successfully implemented on in-service bridges. This study broadens the use of this UHPC repair method by applying it to new bridge construction. The proposed design replaces traditional steel bearing stiffeners with durable UHPC bearing columns, protecting the beam ends from corrosion that occurs beneath leaking deck joints. This paper presents the design of a beam end and novel end diaphragm connection for a sample bridge. By eliminating the need for maintenance and repair of bridges with deck joints, this research has the potential to contribute to longer-lasting, high-performance bridges that benefit the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
