Uncontrolled Concrete Bridge Parapet Cracking (SJN: 134602)
Researcher: Norbert Delatte – Cleveland State University
There appears to be wide-spread premature cracking of bridge concrete parapets on relatively recently constructed bridge decks. The District has identified 27 bridges exhibiting premature cracking of bridge concrete parapets to varying degrees. Bridge concrete parapets can be replaced without bridge deck replacement, and the decks on which these problem parapets were poured appear to be performing as anticipated. A cursory review of District 12 parapets shows little correlation between deck characteristics; some are on short spans, while other longer spans on skews. Also, multiple contractors and concrete suppliers are involved. The District continues to design and construct these bridge concrete parapets similarly every year. The District did replace one cracked parapet (without replacing the deck) and the cost was about $140,000. Cracked parapets are a safety concern and the potential cost to the Department to remove and replace parapets could be significant.
The objective of this research is to provide a list of supported hypotheses for premature cracking on bridge concrete parapets.