No abstract

This study aims to enhance the concrete properties and the structural system of the cover of Telecommunications (T.E.) manhole covers in order to improve its abrasion resistance, increase safety factors, enhance the composite action, increase the load carrying capacity and lessen the potential risks. Through this study, different improvement materials were added to the concrete mixtures to enhance the mechanical properties of concrete, such as, compression, flexure, and abrasion resistance. Moreover, shear connectors were used in the steel concrete composite covers to evaluate their structural performances under centrally applied localized loading. It was concluded that producing concrete by adding 10% silica fume of cement content and 50 kg of steel fibers per cubic meter, increased the abrasion resistance of the modified concrete by 48% compared to the designed mix. Moreover, the maximum load bearing capacity for the developed covers with the enhanced concrete and shear connectors increased by 31% compared to the commercial covers with normal strength concrete and bottom steel bars mesh. The commercial covers bearing capacity is lower than the permissible bearing capacity of 250 kN according to BS EN 124 for covers class C250. While developed covers comply with BS EN 124 for the Covers class C250. Therefore, both of the shear connectors and the enhanced concrete have a significant effect on the bearing capacity that make the covers able to be installed safely in the area of curbside of roads.