Practical Issues for the Application of High-Performance Concrete to Highway Structures

The advantages of high-performance concrete (HPC) have been well documented in recent years. These include enhanced design flexibility and improved durability performance resulting in reduced maintenance costs and an increased service life. In spite of these obvious benefits, implementation of HPC has been very slow. This can be attributed to several factors including the uncertainty related to current design codes and a lack of familiarity of designers and contractors with proper design and construction practices and requirements for HPC structures. This paper introduces and discusses some fundamental issues that affect the implementatation of HPC and impact the practitioner. These include those related to quality control/quality assurance, specifications, material performance, and structural behavior. Within the scope of this discussion, the fundamental differences and similarities between HPC and conventional concrete are discussed. The aim is to provide the practicing engineer with a conceptual understanding of the practical issues that affect the design and use of HPC for highway structures with the desire to further stimulate the implementation of HPC.

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