Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays: Fundamental Concepts and Design Example

Ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) has emerged as an innovative material with a large number of potential applications in rehabilitation and new construction of various forms of infrastructure. Owing to its high strength and impermeability, UHPC overlays have recently been used as a cost-effective solution to strengthen existing concrete bridge decks. An obstacle to the more widespread use of UHPC overlays for strengthening decks is the availability of design guidance for this new material and familiarity with the required design procedures. This paper aims to bridge this gap by providing a comprehensive design example for the strengthening of an existing bridge deck using a UHPC overlay. The design covers positive and negative moment bending, strength and serviceability checks, and interface shear and fatigue calculations.