A University of Toronto alkali-silica reaction research project led by Professor R. Doug Hooton (CivE), who holds the Industrial Research Chair in Concrete Durability and Sustainability at U of T, correlated short-term laboratory tests with long-term performance to predict concrete behaviour, which improved understanding of detrimental chemical processes in concrete. This new information was subsequently incorporated into Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) specifications to improve the quality and extend the life of concrete.

With a research investment of $29,000, MTO calculates implementation of the changed concrete standards that can add one extra year of bridge life before rehabilitation or replacement occurs–at a savings of $40,000 per structure–for an overall savings of $72 million over the life of the ministry’s 1,800 concrete bridges.

MTO included this research news in the Fall 2010 issue of its transportation technology digest, RoadTalk.