20 Advantages of High Performance Concrete in Design and Construction

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There are several advantages of high performance concrete (HPC) application in building construction which are not achievable using conventional concrete.

The strength, durability, resistance to chemical attack, and workability of high performance concrete are high. So, high performance concrete is superior to ordinary concrete in all properties.

High performance concrete is defined as “A concrete which meets special performance and uniformity requirements that cannot always be achieved routinely by using only conventional materials and normal mixing, placing and curing practices”, as per ACI 363.

Advantages of High Performance Concrete

The advantages of using high strength high performance concretes often balance the increase in material cost. The following are the major advantages that can be accomplished.

1. Ease of placement and consolidation without influencing strength.
2. Reduce the size of structural members which lead to the increase of usable area. Consequently, concrete volume is cut.
3. The size of structural members like beams and columns are reduced since smaller sections are enough to carry high loads.
4. Reduction in the thickness of floor slabs and supporting beam sections which are a major component of the weight and cost of the majority of structures.
5. The reduction in smaller structural members such as beams, columns, and slabs lead to the decline in self-weight and super-imposed dead load. As a result, smaller foundation size is needed which reduce the cost significantly.
6. Higher seismic resistance compares with conventional concrete.
7. High abrasion resistance
8. Formwork area and its cost are reduced.
9. Shoring and stripping time is decreased because of high early strength gain of high performance concrete.
10. Construction of high rise buildings with the accompanying savings in real estate costs in congested areas.
11. Longer spans and fewer beams for the same magnitude of loading. That is why the use of high performance concrete in bridge construction is inevitable.
12. Reduced axial shortening of compression supporting members.
13. Number of supports and hence foundations are reduced due to the ability of high performance concrete to span for longer distances.
14. Increase life span of the structure in severe environments
15. Superior long-term service performance under static, dynamic and fatigue loading.
16. Low creep and shrinkage.
17. Greater stiffness as a result of a higher modulus.
18. High resistance to freezing and thawing, chemical attack, significantly improve long-term durability, and crack propagation.
19. Reduced maintenance and repairs.
20. Smaller depreciation as a fixed cost.

Read More:

Requirements of High Performance Concrete

High Strength and High Performance Concrete Materials and Difference