Valley Forge Laboratories, Inc.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has set goals and objectives for "Moving PennDOT Forward." The objective of this research is to provide forensic analysis capabilities in areas where a third party is essential in investigating the cause of materials-related failures. The evaluation and analysis capabilities must be available on a quick turnaround basis to facilitate the decision making process at the Department Level.

The goal is to produce a definitive explanation of, for example, a highway or bridge structure failure, and to further capitalize on the potential benefits of the investigative findings by being proficient in the implementation of the technology transfer.

A major objective of PennDOT is to provide for the maintenance and operation of the highway and bridge network and interface with other transportation components.

Since 1995, VFL has provided to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation materials-related forensic investigations and analyses, new product analyses and special testing programs under two separate statewide contracts. This effort has included the following projects.

The purpose of this project is to determine the feasibility of specifying a limit to drying shrinkage of AAA concrete for use in bridge deck construction. The proposed changes to PENNDOT Bulletin 5 are designed to reduce the frequency of early transverse cracking in the construction of concrete bridge decks or to eliminate the risk of bridge deck cracking by identifying problematic materials and requiring alternate materials. This work order included the visiting of fifteen 1994-1995 construction projects state-wide for the casting of samples on site and sampling of the ingredients, used to produce the same concrete, at the concrete preparation facilities. Samples of laboratory prepared concrete were prepared from batches cast in accordance with the current Bulletin 5 documentation in effect at the time when the concrete bridge deck was placed. This effort included a deck condition survey prior to opening the bridge deck to traffic and again after four months.

This work order pertains to alternate coating systems for steel products in lieu of painting. Two categories were identified: Metalizing and Plastic Flame Coating. This work stems from concerns for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the work environment. Disposal of lead-contaminated blast debris during re-painting and economic considerations of potentially longer service life were also motivations for this project. The tasks included identification of applications, existing research, and users.

This Work Order pertains to the evaluation of the effect of dowels inserted into sleeves, which are inserted into the newly cast concrete joint face, with respect to the load-deflection, dowel slip characteristics and corrosion of dowels in accordance with AASHTO T253-76 (1986) sections 4 and 5. The results of this specialized testing were compared to the requirements of AASHTO M254-77 (1990). The test methods and performance specifications pertain to epoxy-coated dowel bars since the performance of the dowel bar is the primary concern.