Alternate wet curing method for shotcrete repair on highway bridge soffits

The corrosion of reinforced concrete structures leads to the necessity for suitable rehabilitation. A common method employed for degraded bridge soffits, is to replace the old degraded concrete with shotcrete, accompanied by curing via misting. However, fog misting over open roads can lead to driver uncertainty, thereby leading to undesirable driving conditions. As a result, an alternative curing method involving the direct application of a layer of wet cellulose to the shotcrete patch. The purpose of this research is to investigate the potential use of cellulose as an alternative way of curing shotcrete. Various panels were shotcreted and cured using common industry methods. Cores from the panels then underwent an in-depth experimental program involving a variety of durability testing. In addition to these field panels, laboratory prepared panels were also cast. The results show the ability of cellulose cured shotcrete, to produce a quality higher than curing compound and misting.