Bridges

Structural lightweight concrete is being used in bridge decks with ever increasing frequency. New as well as rehabilitated structure designs are incorporating lightweight concrete. Cost effective because of reduction in reinforcing steel, dead loads and foundation requirements coupled with the excellent durability and skid resistance of lightweight concrete.
 

Norlite has been involved with numerous bridges over the past years and expect to participate in the massive rehabilitation of deteriorated bridges in our area for many years in the future. 

If weight is not a problem, just consider the increased cover of concrete over re-bar that lightweight concrete can afford the designer.

Superior durability, excellent resistance to freeze-thaw and improved skid resistance are some of the prime reasons for the increased use of lightweight concrete in bridge construction. The use of lightweight concrete for restoration allows the engineer to use an existing substructure or superstructure in combination with lightweight concrete to ultimately increase live load capacity of the structure.

Numerous bridges have utilized Norlite saturated lightweight aggregate fines to improve the characteristics of High Performance Concrete Bridge decks. The internal curing provided better hydration of the cementitious fraction of the concrete. Moisture is slowly released from reservoirs of absorbed water within the pores of the lightweight aggregate as the binder demands it. This additional curing helps to reduce early age cracking caused by drying, autogeneous, and thermal effects. Reduction of cracking helps to improve durability and service lives of the structures.  To learn more about this process, visit our Internal Curing page.