Eco-friendly high-performance concretes: From particle packing to bridge tower design for record long suspension bridges along the ferry-free E39

A research project is carried out to make use of Eco-friendly high performance concrete qualities feasible in the long-span development bridges within the (famous) "Ferry-free E39-highway project” running along the Norwegian west-coast. The paper reports development of a family of Eco-friendly C100 concretes containing relatively large amounts of flyash and silica, having water-binder ratios of 0,30 and 0,35. The mix-optimization and the property development (fc, ft, Ec), until 91 days are reported. Furthermore, the volume changes and the restraint stress development have been measured under realistic temperature histories, and the early age crack risk has been evaluated. The target concrete quality has been applied in design of typical bridge towers in the world-record long suspension bridges planned for the Halsafjord (2,0 km) and Sulafjord (3,2 km) crossings, and the sustainability evaluated.