I-Corps: Ultra High Performance, Fiber Reinforced Concrete

每年总建筑成本的近一半与修理、更换和维护因环境压力、结构负荷或其他影响而恶化或损坏的现有基础设施有关。结构的耐久性问题可能导致生命周期成本比初始建造成本高得多。传统混凝土的缺陷和随后的环境影响要求更耐用的材料，其在环境压力下将持续更长时间，从而有助于保护自然资源和生态系统。超高性能纤维增强混凝土（UHP-FRC）是新一代混凝土材料，其强度是传统混凝土的6倍，具有高度的损伤容限，完全延性，在正常荷载下无裂缝。UHP-FRC的极高抗压强度来自其通过致密颗粒堆积概念进行的微观机械设计。离散的高强度钢纤维的添加显著地增强了其延展性和韧性。 UHP-FRC是一种绿色混凝土，对环境友好，并有能力为我国的未来创造一个具有弹性和可持续性的耐用基础设施。拟议的项目将加速将UHP-FRC引入需要未来材料的设计和施工领域，这些材料具有可持续性，可加工性，强度，耐久性和弹性。UHP-FRC在施工中的潜在经济影响将是显而易见的，因为UHP-FRC产品的强度和延性将降低钢筋放置和钢筋材料的成本。这种材料将影响具有挑战性的建筑项目和可施工性的市场。与传统混凝土相比，这项新技术还将使维修和维护成本降低约25%。UHP-FRC在抗爆炸/冲击/地震结构、具有挑战性的建筑构件、桥梁和高速公路、铁路和机场跑道中具有板应用。

Nearly half of total annual construction costs are related to repair, replacement, and maintenance of existing infrastructure that have been deteriorated or damaged by environmental stress, structural loading, or other effects. The durability issues of structures can lead to a significantly higher life-cycle cost in comparison to the initial construction cost. The deficiencies of conventional concrete and subsequent impacts of the environment calls for a more durable material that will last longer under environmental stress, thereby contributing to the conservation of natural resources and the protection of ecosystem. Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHP-FRC) is the next generation of concrete material, which is six times stronger than conventional concrete, highly damage tolerant, fully ductile, and free of cracks under normal loadings. The very high compressive strength of UHP-FRC comes from its micro-mechanical design by the dense particle packing concept. The addition of discrete high-strength steel fibers considerably enhances its ductility and toughness. UHP-FRC is a green concrete, environmentally friendly, and has the ability to create a durable infrastructure that is resilient and sustainable for the future of our country.The proposed project will accelerate the introduction of UHP-FRC to potential areas of design and construction in need of a futuristic material that allows sustainability, workability, strength, durability, and resilience. The potential economic impact in construction will be evidently clear with UHP-FRC, because the strength and ductility of the UHP-FRC product will reduce the cost of reinforcement placement and reinforcement materials. This material will impact the markets in challenging architectural projects and constructability. This new technology will also reduce cost in repairs and maintenance by approximately 25% in comparison with conventional concrete. UHP-FRC has board applications in blast/impact/earthquake resistant structures, challenging architectural members, bridges and highways, railroads, and airport runways.