The
Conco Companies have extensive experience using different types of concrete to meet
the demands of a project. One form of
concrete we use is high-performance concrete (HPC). It is specifically designed to be more
durable and/or stronger than standard concrete.
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) defines high-performance concrete
as “meeting special combinations of performance and uniformity requirements
that cannot always be achieved routinely using conventional constituents and
normal mixing, placing, and curing practices.”
While
a mixture for HPC basically contains the same materials as conventional
concrete, the difference is in the proportion of the materials added to give
the concrete the required strength and durability. HPC mixtures must meet structure demands as
well as the environmental conditions of the project and typically use materials
other than just cement to achieve the desired results. The materials used for the mixtures are
flyash, ground blast furnace slag, or microsilica fume.
Not
all high-strength concrete is high performance.
Since HPC is used in the construction of bridge decks and highways it
must contain properties such as high density, low permeability and resistance
to environmental conditions. The Federal
Highway Administration says that the performance benefits of HPC are ease of
placement and consolidation without affecting strength, long-term mechanical
properties, early high strength, volume stability, and longer life in severe
environments. They add that the cost
benefits are less material and fewer beams reduced maintenance, and an extended life cycle.
The
ACI states that HPC has a specified compressive strength of 8000 psi (55 MPa)
or greater. They
add that, “The value of 8000 psi (55 MPa) was selected because it represented a
strength level at which special care is required for production and testing of
the concrete and at which special structural design requirements may be
needed.”
Sources:
concrete.org/topicsinconcrete/topicdetail/high%20performance%20concrete
cement.org/for-concrete-books-learning/concrete-technology/concrete-design-production/ultra-high-performance-concrete
fhwa.dot.gov/research/resources/uhpc/index.cfm
Conco is one of the
leading commercial concrete contractors in the Western United States. We have four regional offices serving
California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado. We
are experts at creating cost-effective solutions that take advantage of the
most up-to-date techniques. Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other
construction development as well as public works projects.
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