Concrete is a durable and multipurpose construction material. It is not only strong and durable but also economical. Unlike conventional concrete, high performance concrete is a concrete mixture that is high in durability and strength. It contains a mixture of cementitious materials such as silica fume and fly ash. It gets the name high performance concrete from its ingredients and proportions which provides high strength and low permeability to the structure.
So, in short, high-performance concrete is the same as the normal ready mix concrete with minerals and chemicals such as Silica fume and superplasticizer which enhance the strength and durability.
Here are a few major advantages of high-performance concrete.
• HPC gives you direct savings due to lesser member size which results in the increased useable area.
• It is resistant to adverse climatic conditions, chemical attack, and long-term durability and cracks propagation.
• Low maintenance and repairs
• Real estate savings by constructing high-rise buildings in congested areas.
• Great long-term service performance under static, dynamic, and fatigue loading.
• Reduction in size of the columns
• Speed of construction
• Increased durability in the marine environment
• High tensile strength
High performance concrete has already been utilized in many structural applications in various countries. Bridges, high-rise buildings/skyscrapers, nuclear structures, tunnels, etc. are a few applications of HPC.
American Concrete Institute (ACI) defines HPC 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”
High performance concrete has helped overcome many problems observed in conventional concrete such as less durability, low resistance to chemical attack, and difficulty in repair and retrofitting works.
An Internet Writer.