Why Precast Prestressed Concrete?

The obvious benefit of using precast concrete is that agencies can reopen a pavement to traffic almost immediately after placing the panels, rather than having to wait for a cast-in place concrete to reach sufficient strength in the onsite curing environment. Precast pavement, therefore, permits overnight and weekend reconstruction projects. Less obvious, but equally important, is the benefit of improved durability. Conventional concrete paving is prone to certain quality problems, such as built-in curl and warp (due to moisture and temperature gradients, respectively), strength loss (due to insufficient curing), and inadequate air entrainment. Precast panels, on the other hand, are cast in a controlled environment using high-quality concrete mixes and optimal curing conditions, thereby reducing the probability of encountering such problems. The result is a more durable pavement that will meet the design-life requirements placed upon it. Agencies can realize further benefits by ...  more