EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ON DURABLE AND SEISMIC-RESILIENT CONCRETE BRIDGES WITH USE OF NOVEL MATERIALS

Concrete is the 2^nd most consumed material in the world after water. Concrete is used twice as much in construction as all other building materials combined. Conventional concrete is made of cement, coarse aggregates (gravel), fine aggregates (sand), water, and air. Moreover, conventional concrete structures are reinforced with steel rebars. A typical service life for conventional reinforced concrete (RC) structures is between 50-75 years. Noting this service life, conventional materials (steel and concrete) used for the construction of civil and critical infrastructures (e.g., bridges, buildings, containment facilities, etc.) bring in the issues such as corrosion which compromises the structural performance of the system. Besides structural performance, the system must have good durability, which is defined as the ability to withstand damaging effects of the environment without noticeable deterioration over the service life of the structure. This paper presents the main characteristics of the novel construction concept of Titanium Alloy Bars Reinforced with Ultra-High Performance Concrete (TARUHPC). In addition, the paper reports experimental research to evaluate the basic mechanical behavior and structural performance of TARUHPC structures. Two main aspects are highlighted in this experimental research: a) the bond behavior between titanium alloy bars (TiABs) and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), and b) the cyclic behavior of TARUHPC bridge piers concept to evaluate their seismic performance. The results from the experimental testing are then compared against conventional RC specimens, showing that improved seismic behavior can be achieved with novel materials. The solution, i.e., TARUHPC concept aims to obtain a practical solution for new bridge construction offering huge advantages such as ductility, environmental durability, earthquake resiliency, cost-effectiveness (in terms of life-cycle cost), and the potential of revolutionizing future construction.