Modified Flexural Strength Test

Project Information

Project ID:

FHWA-PROJ-11-0041

Project Status:

Active

Start Date:

Sunday, May 15, 2011

End Date:

Sunday, August 31, 2014

FHWA Program:

Infrastructure

FHWA Subprogram:

Pavement and Materials

FHWA Topics:

Research/Technologies--Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)

TRT Terms:

Flexural Strength; Infrastructure; Research; Concrete; Construction Materials

FHWA Discipline:

Construction and Project Management, Design, Pavement and Materials

TRB Subject Area:

Construction, Design, Materials

Contact Information

First Name:

Ahmad

Last Name:

Ardani

Telephone:

(202) 493-3422

Email Address:

ahmad.ardani@dot.gov

Team:

Infrastructure Materials Team

Office:

Office of Infrastructure Research and Development

Office Code:

HRDI-10

Project Details

Project Description:

The work for this study consisted of the following: (1) Six 4- by 4- by 14-inch beam molds will be fabricated at Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center's (TFHRC's) machine shop.(2) Three different mixes with three different water-to-cement (W/C) ratios will be used. The aggregate includes gravel, limestone, and diabase. (3) Concrete mixes will be cast with two different beam sizes and tested at 28 days.(4) The results will be compared and a correlation will be established.(5) A report documenting the results will be published.

Goals

The primary objective of this study is to examine the feasibility of using a smaller-size beam (4 by 4 by 14 inches) to conduct flexural strength testing (ASTM C-78) for concrete pavements in the field and in the laboratory. This objective will be achieved by comparing flexural strength test results obtained from the regular- and smaller-size beams. If good correlation is achieved, States may start using the smaller-size beams for quality assurance with more confidence.

Project Findings:

The results of the data analysis revealed a very good correlation between the flexural strength of smaller size beams and the traditional beam sizes.

Deliverables

Deliverable Name:

New American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials specification for flexural strength testing

Deliverable Type:

Research report or guidelines

Deliverable Description:

The deliverable is a new modified American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) specification for flexural strength testing using a smaller-size beam.