Research directions for high-performance concrete

Abstract

The continuous development of civil infrastructure has been imposing more and more stringent requirements on the concrete to be used. To meet with stringent requirements, the notion of high-performance concrete (HPC) processing high strength, high workability, high durability and high dimensional stability had been put forward in the last century. After about 20 years of development, a large variety of HPC has been produced. However, since the various performance attributes of HPC are often contradictory to each other and thus difficult to achieve simultaneously, the development of HPC has come to a bottle neck. To cope with such situation, a more scientific approach is needed. Here, we shall explain how conventional concrete technology could be reformed into modern concrete science by incorporating new theories on particle packing, water film thickness and particle interaction. We shall also introduce new technologies such as aggregate treatment, fillers and green concrete. It is our belief that with further advancement in concrete science and technology, even better HPC could be produced for more sustainable construction.