Inspection Guide for Column Splice Regions Affected by Premature Concrete Deterioration

This guideline aims to help bridge inspectors and engineers to identify and assess the capability of reinforced concrete column splice regions affected by varying degrees of premature concrete deterioration due to alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and delayed ettringite formation (DEF). To assess the structural behavior of bridge column splices that are influenced by ASR/DEF, research engineers conducted a comprehensive experimental program over an eight-year period.The program consisted of the design, construction, curing, exposure, testing, and assessment of 16 large-scale column specimens with a lap splice region typical of TxDOT practice for the bar size being used and conservative by code standards. The report presents a summary of the results on testing of 10 specimens that were structurally load-tested in the four-point load test setup; all but the last two specimens were tested in the three-point load test setup. Researchers will periodically inspect six more specimens that are being stored at the exposure site indefinitely under outdoor exposure conditions.