Durability
The Strength to Stand Up to Extremes
Bridges Home > HPC > Concrete Advantages > Durability
Today's concrete offers tolerance to a wide range of environmental
challenges—from temperature fluctuation to corrosive elements.
Concrete bridge decks supported by concrete girders offer solid durability,
providing minimal deflection under live loads. Spliced girder, segmental
and cable-stayed construction techniques for long-span or curved alignments
can make optimal use of concrete's high-performance attributes.
- Resistant to harsh elements - Impervious to extreme conditions,
concrete consistently outperforms other bridge materials, even
in harsh settings.
- Friendly to the environment - Industrial byproducts such
as fly ash, silica fume and blast furnace slag make concrete less
permeable, while fulfilling environmental responsibility.
- Adaptable to requirements - With versatility for any
application, concrete can be engineered to meet specific structural
needs.
High-Performance Profile: Confederation
Bridge, Prince Edward Island, Canada
 Owner:
Public Works Canada
Engineer: J. Muller International, SLG Stanley
Contractor: Strait Crossing Joint Venture
The Challenge: To construct a bridge between Prince Edward Island and the Canadian mainland durable enough to withstand harsh ice and strong wind loads while meeting a 100-year service life design requirement.
The Project: Selecting high-performance concrete as the most effective choice to resist the corrosive action of salt water, the Canadian government constructed one of the longest, continuous, multi-span bridges in the world.
The Concrete Advantage: Using a mixture that included 7.5% silica fume, the bridge was constructed of dense, impervious concrete with a service life of 100 years. Extensive use of precast, prestressed concrete dramatically shortened the construction cycle. Pier shafts were designed with high-performance concrete conical ice shields for protection from ice floes and salt water.
The Result: Featuring an unprecedented number of 820-ft. (250 m) spans, the 8.1 mile (13 km) three-lane bridge was erected with pre-cast segments in only 14 months.
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