Development, Characterization and Applications of Non-Proprietary Ultra High Performance Concretes for Highway Bridges
Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a specially formulated concrete that is capable of achieving extremely high performance. When properly reinforced with steel fibers, the material is capable of achieving the following properties: (1) High compressive strength, approaching that of mild steel. (2) High tensile strength, several times that of regular concrete. (3) Pseduo-ductility, with tensile softening strains of up to an order of magnitude greater than that of regular concrete. (4) Exceptional energy absorption prior to fracture. (5) Extremely small crack widths, small enough to practically eliminate ingress of chlorides. (6) Exceptional durability, primarily enabled by the very small crack widths and the extremely high packing density of the material at the microstructure level. (7) Self-consolidating properties, which simplify construction. (8) Autogenous self-healing properties, enabled by small crack widths under service loads. High material cost coupled with complicated and costly construction procedures have seriously delayed widespread adoption of UHPC in the United States (US). An alternative UHPC developed at the University of Michigan, here termed np-UNPC for non-proprietary-UHPC, has the potential for removing all obstacles preventing widespread use of UHPC in the State of Michigan and in the US. In addition to the basic 8 properties listed above, this new material has 3 new critical advantages: (1) Substantially greater pseudo-ductility, up to an order of magnitude greater than available materials, when fibers are used. (2) It is nonproprietary and made up of components that are available on the US market. (3) Does not require expensive heat or pressure treatment as Ductal and other material do. In fact, it can be made using conventional mixers, which reduces adoption costs dramatically and allows the material to be made and delivered the same way as regular concrete. The material has currently broken world records in terms of energy absorption, but could be optimized for lower cost, albeit with lower strength performance. The objective of this research is to optimize the cost of various np-UHPC's using materials available in the State of Michigan, characterize their mechanical properties, and explore applications, focusing on Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) and Precast Bridge Element Systems (PBES).
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Completed
- Funding: $311125.00
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Contract Numbers:
2013-0068 Z1
OR14-020
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Sponsor Organizations:
Michigan Department of Transportation
Murray Van Wagoner Building
425 West Ottawa, P.O. Box 30050
Lansing, MI United States 48909 -
Project Managers:
Kahl, Steve
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Performing Organizations:
Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Wolverine Tower, Room 1038
3003 South State St
Ann Arbor, MI United States 48109 -
Principal Investigators:
El-Tawil, Sherif
- Start Date: 20130102
- Expected Completion Date: 0
- Actual Completion Date: 20181231
- Source Data: RiP Project 33994
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Bridge members; Compressive strength; Concrete bridges; Cracking; Energy absorption; High performance concrete; Mechanical properties; Tensile strength; Ultra high performance concrete
- Geographic Terms: Michigan
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Pavements; I30: Materials;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01478618
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Michigan Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: 2013-0068 Z1, OR14-020
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Apr 17 2013 1:00AM