By: Lou Triandafilou, P.E.
High-performance concrete (HPC) technology from A to Z is the focus of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) new High-Performance Concrete Structural Designer’s Guide, one of the many HPC resources available from FHWA.
This comprehensive guide was developed by FHWA’s HPC Technology Delivery Team. It covers topics such as the characteristics and grades of HPC for various applications and environments and guidelines for developing HPC mix designs and proportioning materials. The material properties of HPC that are important to long-term structural performance are outlined.
Guidelines also are provided on the fabrication, transportation and erection of precast, prestressed HPC beams, as well as how to perform cast-in-place construction of substructures and superstructures.
In addition, the most common instruments that can be used for field measurement and recording of strain deflection, rotation, acceleration and temperature of HPC members are identified. And assessing the cost-effectiveness of HPC is made easier with the inclusion of guidelines that estimate the initial construction costs and life-cycle costs.
The guide also presents an overview of HPC projects around the U.S., with information on lessons learned and sources for further details on the projects. In addition, recently completed HPC research projects are highlighted, as well as ongoing testing that may lead to the next generation of HPC. The guide includes web links to state department of transportation research projects.
The guide will be updated periodically to reflect new developments in HPC technology and changes in codes or guide specifications issued by the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials and industry organizations.
The High-Performance Concrete Structural Designer’s Guide is available on CD-ROM. The guide also is posted online at www.knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/hpc. For more information, to obtain a copy on CD-ROM or to submit comments or questions about the guide, call 410/962-3648; e-mail: [email protected].
FHWA’s High-Performance Concrete Exchange Community of Practice website (www.knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/hpc) is another comprehensive source of information about HPC. Open to all, the site is organized by topic and activity areas, including HPC definition and research, structural design and specifications, mix design and proportioning and case studies/lessons learned. Additional topics include costs; cast-in-place construction; fabrication, transportation and erection; and instrumentation, monitoring and evaluation. Discussion groups are available for each topic, as well as reference materials and a directory of members of the community of practice. “Works in progress” also can be posted under each topic area for discussion.
The HPC Exchange also features detailed results from a 2003-04 survey of HPC implementation nationwide conducted by FHWA’s HPC Technology Delivery Team. According to the survey, 77% of states have used HPC in low-permeability concrete for structures and 58% have used it in high-strength concrete.
Visitors to the exchange can find links to useful related websites as well, including those of FHWA’s Office of Bridge Technology, the National Concrete Bridge Council (NCBC) and the American Concrete Pavement Association.
To continue to learn more about the latest in HPC technology and projects, subscribe to Bridge Views, a joint publication of FHWA and the National Concrete Bridge Council. For a free subscription, contact NCBC at 847/966-6200; fax: 847/966-9781; e-mail: [email protected]. Bridge Views also is available online at www.cement.org/bridges/br_newsletter.asp.
About The Author: Triandafilou is a specialist in high-performance structural materials at the FHWA Resource Center.
