31 Advantages of High Performance Concrete

What is High Performance Concrete?

High-performance concrete (HPC) is concrete that has been designed to be more durable and, if necessary, stronger than conventional concrete.

The majority of the components in HPC mixes are identical to those in traditional concrete mixes, but the proportions have been developed to give the strength and durability required for the project’s structural and environmental criteria.

A specific compressive strength of 55 MPa or more is required for concrete to be considered high-strength.

The value of 55 MPa was selected because it represented a strength level at which special care is required for production and testing of the concrete and at which special structural design requirements may be needed.

So, now let us have a look at the advantages of high performance concrete that makes it great choice for construction over conventional concrete.

Advantages of High Performance Concrete

Utilizing high performance concretes has benefits that frequently outweigh the increase in material cost. The main benefits that can be achieved are as follows.

High performance concrete (HPC) offers high durability and service life (meaning that it is a long-lasting material) under severe loading and environmental conditions.
It requires less maintenance and repair works to achieve the target service life.
HPC can be pre-stressed or post-stressed.
Cost of formwork is less, also the area it cover is less.
HPC has higher compressive strength compared to conventional concrete.
Higher Young’s modulus and stiffness.
Better tensile and flexural strength than normal concrete.
The seismic resistance of HPC is way better than conventional concrete.
HPC is easier to place and consolidate without compromising the strength.
HPC possesses higher workability compared to ordinary concrete, which makes it a great choice for complex construction projects.
Removing the formwork is done faster since HPC has higher early strength compared to normal concrete.
Since HPC has high strength,it helps with the reduction in cross-section size of structural elements, allowing more architectural space.
The size of beams will also decrease since smaller sized-beams will be needed to carry the same load compared to conventional concrete.
The reduced size of elements reduces the own weight structure, thus the size of foundations and of course the cost.
Less tendency to cracking and fracture, thus, it is usually used with high-traffic zones and cold-weather regions.
High performance concrete has higher resistance to fire (meaning higher fire rating).
Better resistance to chemical attacks. That is why it can be used in areas exposed to chemical attacks.
HPC has higher resistance to chloride diffusion, making it more suitable in marine environments and sea water.
The low absorption capacity of HPC increases its resistance to freezing and thawing damage since freezing damage is dependant on the ingress properties of concrete
The resistance to wear and abrasion for HPC is high.
Higher ability to insulate sound.
Higher resistance to vibration.
Less axial shortening of columns
High resistance to shrinkage and creep.
Better performance against fatigue and cyclic loads.
High performance concrete is suitable for new or old applications; it can be used for new structures or for repair applications.
HPC can be dyed and colored to fit the architectural design of the structure.
Can be used in combination with other building materials such as steel construction.
Can be used for low- or high- rise buildings.
Can be used in larger spans for beams. This makes HPC necessary for bridge construction.
Long service life.