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GROUT-CONCRETE INTERFACE BOND PERFORMANCE: EFFECT OF INTERFACE MOISTURE ON THE TENSILE BOND STRENGTH AND GROUT
I De la Varga1, J F Muñoz1, D P Bentz2
1SES Group & Associates at Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA, 22101 (USA).
Construction and Building Materials
|June 9, 2018
Summary
Pre-moistening concrete surfaces before applying non-shrink cementitious grout significantly enhances bond strength. This practice improves grout hydration and reduces interface porosity, crucial for structural integrity in prefabricated bridge elements (PBEs).
Area of Science:
- Civil Engineering
- Materials Science
- Construction Materials
Background:
- The bond between cementitious materials is critical for structural integrity in repairs, overlays, and prefabricated bridge elements (PBEs).
- Non-shrink cementitious grouts, commonly used for PBE connections, can exhibit significant early-age shrinkage, potentially compromising structural integrity and bond strength.
- The role of moisture at the substrate surface in influencing grout-concrete bond strength remains a subject of debate among practitioners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the tensile bond performance of non-shrink cementitious grouts applied to concrete substrates.
- To investigate the effect of moisture supply at the grout-concrete interface on bond strength.
- To elucidate the microstructural mechanisms responsible for observed changes in bond strength.
Main Methods:
- Tensile bond strength testing using the "pull-off" method.
- Microstructural analysis of the grout-concrete interface.
- Comparative study of grout applied to dry versus pre-moistened concrete substrates.
Main Results:
- Pre-moistening the concrete substrate surface resulted in increased tensile bond strength.
- Microstructural analysis revealed reduced porosity and increased hydration at the grout-concrete interface when sufficient moisture was supplied.
- Preventing moisture movement from the grout to the substrate directly contributed to enhanced bond strength.
Conclusions:
- Pre-moistening concrete surfaces is a beneficial practice for improving the bond strength of non-shrink cementitious grouts.
- Optimizing moisture conditions at the interface enhances grout hydration and reduces porosity, leading to superior bond performance.
- The findings provide a scientific basis for recommended practices in PBE construction and repair.
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