A Game Changer

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) was first introduced as reactive powder concrete (RPC) in the early 1990s by employees of the French contractor Bouygues. When introduced, it came in two classes: Class 200 MPa (29 ksi) and 800 MPa (116 ksi). In the U.S., several state departments of transportation have expressed interest in introducing UHPC in their bridge projects, supported by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) research as well as research done by universities. Most notably, Virginia has produced I-beams with UHPC and Iowa has built two bridges with UHPC beams and one with a UHPC deck. Significant interest has recently been directed at using UHPC in longitudinal joints between precast concrete beams. Use of UHPC in bridges has increased in applications in the U.S. primarily due to leadership by the FHWA. …