I-Corps: Ultra High Performance, Fiber Reinforced Concrete

近一半的年度总建设成本与因环境压力、结构负荷或其他影响而恶化或损坏的现有基础设施的维修、更换和维护有关。与最初的建造成本相比，结构的耐久性问题可能导致更高的生命周期成本。传统混凝土的缺陷和随之而来的对环境的影响要求一种更耐用的材料，在环境压力下能持续更长时间，从而有助于养护自然资源和保护生态系统。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六倍，具有高度的损伤容忍度，完全延展性，在正常载荷下无裂缝。UHP-FRC具有极高的抗压强度，源于其采用致密颗粒填充理念的微观力学设计。离散高强度钢纤维的加入大大提高了其延展性和韧性。UHP-FRC是一种绿色混凝土，对环境友好，有能力为我们国家的未来创造一个持久的基础设施，具有弹性和可持续性。该项目将加速UHP-FRC在设计和建筑领域的应用，这些领域需要一种具有可持续性、可加工性、强度、耐久性和弹性的未来材料。UHP-FRC在施工中的潜在经济影响将是显而易见的，因为UHP-FRC产品的强度和延展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建造性的市场。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板应用于防爆/冲击/抗震结构，具有挑战性的建筑构件，桥梁和高速公路，铁路和机场跑道。

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.