REINFORCEMENT OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE OF A REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAM TYPE BRIDGE

Abstract

Whitetopping is a construction technique where concrete is used for the design and rehabilitation of asphalt pavements. In the research, a concrete is designed to be used in this technique, using aggregates from the Picoazá area, Ecuador. Portland cement type HE was used according to the specifications of the standards of the Ecuadorian Institute of Standardization, with high initial resistance for road structures. Two mixtures were designed using different coarse aggregates (stone No. 6 and No. 7) and in both mixtures, as fine aggregate, the combination of dune sand and stone No. 89, to improve the quality of the natural sand in the mixtures. Two additives are used in the designs, one to delay setting and the other as a plasticizer for the concrete. The dependent variable used to evaluate the manufactured mixtures is the unconfined compressive strength, using tests at 7, 14 and 28 days of curing. The resistance results in the concrete meet the requirements for its use in Whitetopping, reaching the design resistance of 350kg/cm2, both for the mixture with coarse aggregate No. 6 and with aggregate No. 7, so There is no influence of the type of aggregates on the increase in resistance; however, the resistance achieved is greater with the use of additives.