Events in April 2024
-
Ultra-High Performance Concrete Link Slab Design and Construction Ultra-High Performance Concrete Link Slab Design and Construction
–
April 18, 2024Ultra-High Performance Concrete Link Slab Design and Construction
Jim Scarlata, P.E., Assistant Director of the Structures Bureau, New York State Department of Transportation
Webinar Documents:
Presentation Slides: IBT ABC-UTC UHPC Link Slabs Presentation Slides
Announcements: News April 2024Description: Retrofitting existing bridges with Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) link slabs provide a highly durable, minimally intrusive means to eliminate problematic deck joints from non-continuous bridges. The New York State Department of Transportation developed the first UHPC link slab in 2012 and has had great success with their implementation on over one hundred bridges. The evolution of UHPC link slabs, how they work, design considerations, what makes a good candidate for their installation, construction details and procedures, along with an example project will be presented.
Presenter:
Jim Scarlata, P.E.,
Assistant Director of the Structures Design Bureau
New York State Department of Transportation
Email: jim.scarlata@dot.ny.govJim Scarlata has over 17 years of bridge experience with New York State DOT and is currently the Assistant Director of the Structures Design Bureau where he oversees the final design of new, replacement, and rehabilitation bridge projects throughout New York State. Jim is also one of the nation’s leading experts on deck joint elimination, the principal developer of the Department’s policies and standards for link slabs, and a member of FHWA’s EDC-6 innovation initiative deployment team for bridge preservation and repair with Ultra-High Performance Concrete.
Presentation Photos/Graphics:
-
Insights into the Pull-Off Strength of Polymer Concrete and the Effect of Nanomodification Insights into the Pull-Off Strength of Polymer Concrete and the Effect of Nanomodification
–
April 26, 2024Ali Akbarpour, Ph.D. Student; and Shreya Vemuganti, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator of Oklahoma University present work related to pull-off strength of polymer concrete and the effects of nanomodification.
Documents:
Presentation Slides: Seminar Presentation Slides April 2024Description: Polymer concrete is a suitable system for accelerated bridge construction and repair due to their high tensile capacity, rapid cure, high bond strength, light weight, and small thickness. This study investigates the effect of nanomodification with carbon nanotubes on the pull-off strength of Methyl Methacrylate based polymer concrete in accordance with ASTM C1583. Pristine and functionalized carbon nanotubes with carboxyl and ammonia groups have been used in less than 1.5 wt.% amounts to the polymer resin. The study extends to evaluating the bond strength performance with a deteriorated concrete substrate subjected to sulphate exposure. Microscopic investigations were conducted to support the results observed in the pull-off tests.
Presenters:
Ali Akbarpour, Ph.D. student
School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
University of Oklahoma
Email: ali.akbarpour@ou.eduAli Akbarpour is a PhD student and graduate research assistant in the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma from Fall 2022. His primary research focus is on repair and rehabilitation strategies for aging infrastructure using non-metallic materials including fiber reinforced polymer composites and polymer concretes. improving the characteristics of polymer concrete using carbon nanotubes.
Shreya Vemuganti, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
University of Oklahoma
Email: svemugan@ou.eduDr. Shreya Vemuganti is an Assistant Professor in the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science at the University of Oklahoma. She received a PhD from the University of New Mexico in 2021 with an outstanding graduate award. Her research focus includes developing innovative and applicable solutions for aging infrastructure with nano synthesized polymers, 3D printed designs, fiber reinforced polymer composites and nondestructive evaluation.
Presentation Graphics:
Carbon nanotube dispersion stages: magnetic stirring, ultrasonic
Core drilling using universal drilling machine and steel loading devices attached to drilled cores
Neat polymer concrete overall pull off text
Microscopic analysis showing pore structure in COOH and Nh3 modified nanomodified PC overlays
Specimens being exposed to sulfate environments, (a) after 28 days, (b) after 210 days