High Performance Concrete

High-performance concrete (HPC) is produced by careful selection of its component like cement, sand, gravel, cementitious materials such as fly ash; silica fume; and slag, and chemical admixtures for instance high range water reducing admixtures. As compared to ordinary concrete its durability and strength is high.

It has many features such as high strength, smooth fracture surface, low permeability, discontinuous pore, etc. which are different from those of ordinary concrete. Cementitious materials such as fly ash, Silica fume or ground granulated blast furnace slag and usually a super plasticizer are used.

Characteristics of High Performance Concrete

Ø Compressive strength of high performance concrete is above 70-80 MPa.

Ø It has high durability.

Ø It provides low bleeding and plastic shrinkage.

Ø It has been advised that water binder ration for HPC should be less as compared to Ordinary concrete thus it is below 0.35.

Ø There is a little micro-cracking in addition to that it has low heat of hydration, smooth surface, low free lime content, wide range of grain size etc.

Application of High Performance Concrete

Ø High performance Concrete is mainly used in the construction of tunnels, bridges, pavements, high rise building structures because of its strength, durability, and high modulus of elasticity.

Advantages of High Performance Concrete

Ø It increases speed of construction.

Ø It has low shrinkage and high strength.

Ø It gives protection against chloride attack.

Ø It has higher seismic resistance.

Ø It is most economical material in terms of time and money.

Ø It will reduce the size of column.

Ø It has an excellent service life of more than 100 years.

Ø It reduces maintenance cost.

Ø It will provide high tensile strength.

Drawbacks of High Performance Concrete

Ø It has to be produced and placed very carefully than ordinary concrete.