Development of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) Using Locally Available Materials

Abstract

Modern infrastructure relies heavily on concrete, the world's most widely used building material, due to its high adaptability and low cost. Extensive study in the concrete area has produced a diverse range of concretes with uses ranging from skyscraper construction to highway paving. Concrete composites that can fulfill the criteria for better functionality, such as high compressive strength, durability, and greater thermal properties, are needed in a variety of applications. These composites must be able to meet these requirements. Concrete technology has dramatically improved over the previous century, with the concept of high-strength concrete going from 30 MPa to more than 100 MPa. UHPC has many applications and is increasingly employed in various constructions. Furthermore, its overall remarkable endurance attributes suggest reinforced structural components that are much beyond what is economically feasible to design for today with a low cost of maintenance in areas and conditions where concrete is demanding and harsh. This study aimed to develop Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) using materials that are locally available materials. The compressible packing model technique was used to improve particle packing in ternary materials. Various amounts of, for example, silica fume, fly ash, and superplasticizers were tested on the concrete mix in a number of smaller mortar mixtures. Mini cone flow, Mini slump flow, and compressive strength of the fresh and hardened mix were all examined to produce a mix with high strength and excellent workability. The findings revealed that it is challenging to create an optimal blend since the construction of a recipe always involves compromises, and seldom can all criteria be satisfied completely. The concrete produced had a water-to-binder ratio of 0.15 to 0.24 percent, a superplasticizer solid content of 1.25 percent by weight, and a maximum filler aggregate size of 4.75mm. This resulted in concretes with compressive strengths exceeding 120 MPa without fiber reinforcing and self- consolidating characteristics. Steel fibers were also included in certain concrete mixes to increase their ductility.