• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.3D
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• pp.421-431
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• 2011

In this paper, actual bridges constructed with SMA (Stone Mastic Asphalt) deck pavement and virtual bridges substituted the deck pavement with polymer concrete under the same conditions were statically analyzed to investigate applicability of the thin polymer concrete bridge deck pavements. PSC (prestressed Concrete) girder bridge, steel box girder bridge, PSC box girder bridge, and RC (Reinforced Concrete) rahmen bridge constructed with the SMA deck pavement were analyzed and compared to evaluate various types of the bridge. The bridge deck and pavement were assumed to be fully bonded and the stress and deformation during the construction were ignored while those due to pavement weight and vehicle loading were analyzed. According to the analysis results, the stress and deformation of the bridges using the polymer concrete due to the pavement weight were smaller than those using the SMA because of smaller self weight due to lighter unit weight and thinner thickness of the pavement. The stress and deformation of the bridges using the polymer concrete due to the vehicle loading were larger than those using the SMA because of the smaller area moment of inertia due to the thinner pavement thickness. In case that the pavement weight and vehicle loading applied simultaneously, the stress and deformation of the bridges using the polymer concrete were smaller because effect of self weight reduction was more dominant. Investigation of performance of the bridge deck pavement and analysis of economical efficiency are warranted.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate physical properties, durability, fatigue resistance, and long-term performance of poly-urethane concrete (PU) which can be possible application of thin layer on long-span orthotropic steel bridge and to check structural stability of bridge structure. METHODS : Various tests of physical properties, such as flexural strength, tensile strength, bond strength and coefficient of thermal expansion tests were conducted for physical property evaluation using two types of poly urethane concrete which have different curing time. Freezing and thawing test, accelerated weathering test and chloride ion penetration test were performed to evaluate the effect of exposed to marine environment. Beam fatigue test and small scale accelerated pavement test were performed to assess the resistance of PU against fatigue damage and long-term performance. Structural analysis were conducted to figure out structural stability of bridge structure and thin bridge deck pavement system. RESULTS: The property tests results showed that similar results were observed overall however the flexural strength of PUa was higher than those of PUb. It was also found that PU materials showed durability at marine environment. Beam fatigue test results showed that the resistances of the PUa against fatigue damage were two times higher than those of the PUb. It was found form small scale accelerated pavement test to evaluate long-term performance that there is no distress observed after 800,000 load applications. Structural analysis to figure out structural stability of bridge structure and thin bridge deck pavement system indicated that bridge structures were needed to increase thickness of steel deck plate or to improve longitudinal rib shape. CONCLUSIONS: It has been known that the use of PU can be positively considered to thin layer on long-span orthotropic steel bridge in terms of properties considered marine environment, resistance of fatigue damage and long-term performance.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.46-54
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• 2015

Base on Korean design code, previous design code had not considered the effect of pavement on the orthotropic steel deck, however recent design code (Limit State Design Method, 2012) allowed to consider the effect of pavement on the orthotropic steel deck, and efforts to apply the stiffness of pavement to the deck continue. Meanwhile, research on the effect of ultra thin bridge deck overlay on the orthotropic steel deck is inadequate, previous study was limited in about fatigue stress and performance between pavement layer and the orthotropic steel deck. In this study, according to changing of pavement layer stiffness application, pavement materials, pavement thickness and steel deck thickness, analysis of deflection. In addition to base on this result, consider effectiveness of ultra-thin pavement stiffness application on the orthotropic steel deck.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.68-77
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• 2014

In this study, polysulfide epoxy polymer concrete was chosen as an ultra thin bridge deck overlay, and the effect of polymer concrete pavement on the fatigue stress range of the orthotropic steel deck was analyzed through the comparative analysis with epoxy asphalt pavement and SFRC pavement. Abaqus was used to estimate the fatigue stress range, and signed von-mises stress was used to estimate fatigue stress range according to pavement materials and thickness, considering there were multi axis stresses which have longitudinal and lateral direction on the welded parts of the steel deck.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.74-81
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• 2013

This research was performed to identify physical properties of polysulfide epoxy polymer concrete for ultra-thin bridge deck pavement, and improve domestic applicability. With the optimum mix ratio determined from mixing experiments of polymer concretes, compressive, flexural, and bond strength were tested to identify its strength properties along with the freezing-thawing resistance test to evaluate its durability in harsh environments. As a result, the tested polymer concretes showed excellent performance in strength and deflection characteristic and all tested strength satisfied the criteria of American Concrete Institute. Moreover, it had better performance under variable temperatures comparing to other existing pavement materials. By the results of freezing-thawing resistance test and strength measurement for specimens underwent the freezing-thawing process, it can be judged that there is no such problem to the concrete's durability. In conclusion, the newly developed polymer concrete in this research has appropriate properties for use in ultra-thin pavement on bridge deck, and moreover it has superior applicability in comparison with former materials due to its improved temperature sensitivity.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2013

PURPOSES : The objective of this study is to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of castor oil based bio-polymer concrete for use of ultra thin overlays. METHODS : To evaluate the mechanical properties of bio-polymer concrete, the various laboratory tests including compressive, tensile, and flexural strength, and elongation tests were conducted on bio-polymer concrete specimens in this study. The mechanical characteristics of bio-polymer concretes were examined by changing the content of hardener and polymer binder to determine the optimum content for ultra-thin overlays. The bio-polymer concrete developed in this study was used for field trial test of the ultra-thin bridge deck pavement for verifying the workability and monitoring the long-term performance of materials. RESULTS : Test results showed that tensile and the flexural strength of bio-polymer concretes increase and the elongation of bio-polymer concrete decreases with increase of binder content. A field adhesive strength tests conducted on bridge deck pavement indicates the bio-polymer concrete has more than 2MPa of adhesive strength satisfy with the design criteria. CONCLUSIONS : The bio-polymer concrete with more than 20% content of castor oil was developed for ultra-thin overlays in this study. It is found from this study that the 35% of hardener content is most appropriate for maintaining the strength characteristics and flexibility.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2011

This research was performed to evaluate physical properties of polysulfide epoxy overlay material for bridge deck as part of a review for possibility of domestic application of polymer concrete for bridge deck pavement. In order to evaluate strength characteristics, compressive strength, flexural strength and bond strength were tested, and, for durability characteristics, chloride ion penetration resistance and freeze/thaw resistance were tested along with ultraviolet rays impact evaluation. The tests showed that the results met the criteria suggested by the American Concrete Institute in terms of compressive strength, flexural strength and bond strength. However, in terms of the strengths measured at various test temperatures, it was found that the epoxy material was highly dependent on temperature, and, therefore, this should be considered at the time of domestic application of the epoxy material later. Deflection characteristics was checked through flexural strength test and it was found that bridge deck pavement using the epoxy material was excellent compared to bridge deck pavement using asphalt. Furthermore, the results of chloride ion penetration resistance test and freeze/thaw resistance test were also excellent. In the evaluation of ultraviolet rays impact on epoxy slurry mixture, reduction of strain was noticed with increased strength, but the deflection characteristics after exposure to ultraviolet rays was better than the existing acryl polymer concrete. Therefore, it is concluded from the research that the polysulfide epoxy overlay material has the physical properties that are appropriate to pavement of bridge deck.