Date of Award

Fall 2025

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Eshan Dave

Second Advisor

Eshan Dave

Third Advisor

Philippe Kalmogo

Abstract

Bridge curbs are an integral part of a bridge’s deck. However, an abnormal rate of early-age cracking has been noted by many state agencies, including New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NH DOT), on bridge decks and curbs across each state. A literature review was conducted to discover and develop actionable remediation techniques. Within this review, several different remediation techniques were found that could reduce early-age cracking. The subset of this field focusing on mix design remediations was chosen due to the broad applicability and replicability of the approach. When considering mix design, Internally Cured Concrete (ICC) was found to provide substantial resistance due to its volumetric stability and consistent strength development. Reducing the amount of cement was also found to improve volumetric stability and reduce early-age cracking. An experimental program was developed to characterize the effects both techniques would have on two separate baselines. The variations found to have the most significant effect in reducing the early-age cracking potential of the concrete were those incorporating lightweight fine aggregates (LWFA). These variations reduced the volumetric instability and Young’s modulus of the material, both of which contribute to crack formation. Additionally, the reduction in compressive strength observed with this treatment was minimal and could be accommodated within design. Further testing is recommended to reassess the influence of LWFA on the surface resistivity and tensile strength of the concrete. Ongoing work is also focused on characterizing cracking resistance and performance under in-situ conditions.

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