Title: High Performance Concrete Extends Life of Charenton Canal Bridge
Date:  July-August, 2000
Volume:  45
Issue:  4
Page number: 52-62
Author(s): Thomas W. Aymond, Don Theobald
https://doi.org/10.15554/pcij.07012000.52.62

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Abstract

The Charenton Canal Bridge in Charenton, Louisiana, is the state’s first bridge built with High Performance Concrete (HPC) components. The 365 ft (111 m) long new bridge replaces a 55-year-old existing reinforced concrete structure. The structure has five spans each consisting of five Type III AASHTO girders made of precast, prestressed HPC. The bridge’s piles also were cast with HPC. Casting these components with HPC required considerable advance testing and several adjustments to the required match-cast cylinder tests to ensure a consistent 10,000 psi (69 MPa) compressive strength was achieved. This article discusses the research work that led to the adoption of HPC, then describes the design features of the bridge together with the pile testing, batching procedures, and importance of quality control in producing HPC components.