UHPC Roadmap: Advancing the Use of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) in Bridge Applications ​ ​

In the early 2000s, a new class of cementitious materials—known as Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC)—emerged. UHPC is a highly durable material characterized by low or discontinuous porosity, which significantly reduces water and chemical ingress. These properties help mitigate concrete deterioration, thereby supporting the FHWA’s goal to “Get in, Get out, and Stay out” in bridge construction and lowering maintenance costs. With support from the Iowa Highway Research Board (IHRB) and the Iowa DOT, several projects have explored the application of UHPC in various bridge components over the past two decades. These applications include girders, waffle decks, piles, and deck overlays. Additionally, UHPC has been used to connect prefabricated elements and to repair damaged structural members. Recognizing the significant potential of UHPC in both the rehabilitation of existing bridges and the design of new bridges in the United States—and building on its involvement in earlier projects—a group of interested individuals came together to establish an organization that would bring together academia, government agencies, and industry to promote the use of UHPC in bridge applications. Following the 2019 UHPC International Symposium, an initiative to advance the understanding and application of UHPC was launched at Iowa State University. This initiative, known as the UHPC Initiative (or UHPCi), is dedicated to advancing UHPC for civil infrastructure by supporting both fundamental and applied research. It also maintains an active program of knowledge and technology transfer among academic institutions and partner organizations. The mission of UHPCi is to provide a collaborative forum that fosters the sharing of knowledge and promotes research, innovation, and the development of specifications to increase the understanding and use of UHPC. Despite the progress achieved, further work is needed to advance the use of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) in bridge applications. Key areas for advancement include identifying the most suitable applications, reducing material and construction costs, and enhancing bridge longevity with minimal maintenance. Recent inspections conducted by both the Iowa DOT and personnel on past UHPC projects have revealed some concerns, which should also be investigated as part of this ongoing effort. A persistent challenge is the high cost of UHPC. Promising strategies to address this include reducing the metallic fiber content or partially substituting metallic fibers with non-metallic alternatives. These approaches could be explored on an application-specific basis to optimize performance and cost-effectiveness. Given the aforementioned challenges and opportunities, this pooled fund project—conducted in collaboration with the UHPCi—aims to consolidate current knowledge and develop a strategic roadmap to enhance the use of UHPC in both bridge rehabilitation and new bridge construction. The effort will focus on identifying the most promising applications (e.g., bridge decks), where UHPC can offer the greatest impact.

• Record URL:
  • https://ideas.iowadot.gov/subdomain/ideas-main/end/node/4430

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $77,986.00
• Contract Numbers:

  TPF-5(574)

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Project Managers:

  Clute, Khyle

• Performing Organizations:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Center for Transportation Research and Education
  2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700
  Ames, IA  United States  50010-8664
• Principal Investigators:

  Sritharan, Sri

• Start Date: 20260511
• Expected Completion Date: 20270930
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Cost effectiveness; Rehabilitation; Ultra high performance concrete
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01992072
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Iowa Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: TPF-5(574)
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 8 2026 11:32AM