CONCRETE BRIDGE PIER

MADE WITH UHPFRC

CONCRETE BRIDGE PIER

MADE WITH UHPFRC
Amanda Goulart Weber
Raylane de Souza Castoldi
Vitor Perim de Lima

Supervised by Dr. Stephen Jones

Aim
The Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete is a cement based material with
extra duration and ductility compared to a normal concrete. The aim of this research
project is to investigate the use of UHPFRC to design concrete bridge piers.

Objectives
Analyse the mixture of the material
Research mechanical characteristics of UHPFRC
Establish usage of the material
Weigh pros and cons for using this type of concrete
Investigate commercial factors, such as cost and availability
Analyse existing bridges for possible usage of UHPFRC,
comparing with previous use of traditional concrete
Investigate sustainability issues
Draw conclusions on the feasibility of using UHPFRC.

Around Sarasota

HISTORY

Ancient times

Wikimedia Upload

Human beings have always sought, throughout

their existence, different ways to build shelters which
could protect themselves from other animals and forces
of nature such as wind and rain.

Fancy Free Blog

Over the years, the construction methods have been

improved with the use of techniques and materials that
allowed the shelters to be transformed into true fortresses.
Among these materials, cement is a major driver that is present
in a rudimentary way since thousands of years ago to the present day.
In 3000 BC, the Egyptians used mud with straw to bind dried bricks.
They also used gypsum and lime mortars in the pyramids;

In 800 BC, the Greeks produced lime mortars which were much more resistant than the
mortar that would be later used by the Romans;

Yellowstone

The Roman Empire was responsible for the construction of structures that exist today and that
are still considered true works of art, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Roman baths.
They used lime, sand and some natural additives such as animal fat, milk and blood.

From Quarks to Quasars

In the ancient history of China, the Chinese used cementitious materials to build
the Great Wall of China;

Wikimedia Commons

The birth of concrete

The use of concrete as we know it today was only possible thanks to
the industrial development of cement production, which took place in
the nineteenth century, created by Joseph Aspdin. Thereafter different
additives, reinforcements and cement that enabled the creation of new
types of concrete emerged.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

The search for structures that lasted several years and needed little
maintenance led to the creation of High Performance Concrete (HPC).
According to the terminology of the American Concrete Institute, the
HPC meets special requirements of performance and uniformity that
cannot be achieved routinely using conventional practices.

A HPC is produced to be more durable and, if necessary, stronger than
a traditional concrete. The materials used in a HPC are about the same
as conventional concrete, but there is a very rigorous quality control
with regard to the production of concrete, which explains why it is
always precast.

WM. Winkler Co.

Self Compacting Concrete

The development of High Performance Concrete led to the creation of many other types of concrete, including the Self
Compacting Concrete (SCC). SCC is highly fluid, homogeneous non-segregating, allowing the filling of virtually all of the
empty spaces where it is dumped from little or no vibration. Due to that property, the SCC is ideal for inaccessible spots
and complex designs and shapes. Furthermore, Self Compacting Concrete generates a decrease in the noise levels, it is
easily pumped to heights and optimizes manpower of a construction by reducing labour and possibly the skill level of
workers. Being a High Performance Concrete, the Self Compacting Concrete has all these benefits while maintaining the
strength and durability of a regular concrete.

Halyps Cement

Ultra High Performance Concrete

In the 60s, concretes with a load capacity of up to 800 MPa were
developed in special laboratory conditions. They were compressed under
high pressure and heat-treated. In the early 80s, the so-called "Reactive
Powder Concrete" was created under the idea of using a dense,
homogeneous matrix that should prevent the development of micro
cracks.

University of Kassel

Dauber Schmidt

Meanwhile, there existed a wider range of formulations, so the name Ultra High
Performance Concrete (UHPC) was established for any concrete with minimal
compression capacity of 150 MPa. The first commercial applications began in the
80s in Denmark, especially in constructions involving high-level security such as
vaults, strong rooms and protective defense construction.

Imperial College London

Currently, the main company that commercializes the Ultra High

Performance Concrete is Lafarge. The French company sells UHPC by the
name of Ductal, which is claimed to be exceptional for its ductility. The
product has already been used several times in developed countries such
as United States, Japan, France and England.

CONCRETE

Mechanical Characteristics
As stated previously, the main Ultra High Performance Concrete commercialized currently is Ductal, from
Lafarge Company. The information described below show some of the properties of the material. The data
were obtained from the supplier.

Material Characteristic

Normal Concrete

UHPFRC

Compressive Strength (MPa)

20 - 40

180 - 230

Modulus of Elasticity (GPa)

14 - 41

55 59

Flexural Strength (MPa)

3 - 5

40 - 50

Chloride Ion Diffusion (x10E-12 m2/s)

0.02

Carbonation Penetration Depth (mm)

3 - 7

<0.5

Freeze-Thaw Resistance (RDM)

100%

Salt-Scaling Resistance (kg/m2)

0.6

<0.0122

Entrapped Air Content

4 8%

2 4%

Post-Cure Shrinkage (microstrain)

750

Creep Coefficient (x10E-6 mm/mm/oC)

9.9

0.2 0.5

Density (kg/m3)

2240 - 2400

2435 - 2545

Mechanical Characteristics

In 2005, Benjamin A. Graybeal, a leading researcher on Ultra High

Performance Concrete, published a dissertation about the material. In his
research, the mechanical characteristics of UHPC were discussed and some
conclusions could be made about the material:
UHPC clearly has higher mechanical properties than those of
conventional concrete or the High Performance Concrete;
UHPC is a viable substitute for conventional concrete or High
Performance Concrete in prestressed I-girders;
UHPC I-girders can be designed to withstand greater bending and shear
forces. Conservative estimates can be made to predict the flexural
capacity of an I-girder and the post-cracking tensile capacity in the shear
region of a girder.

Style Park Website

Composition
Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete is a combination of high strength concrete and fibres. It is basically a
superplasticized concrete, reinforced with steel fibres, low water-binder ratio and an improved homogeneity because
traditional coarse aggregates are replaced with fine sand.

Powwow Water website

A very low water cementitious

ratio ranging from 0.16 to 0.24.
Improved resistance to impact
loading in terms of penetration
depth and crater diameter can
be achieved through decreased
water cementious ratio.

High dosage of superplasticizer

to reduce the water cementious
ratio.

China Sunbo

A high cement content is used

to improve the resistance.

The only aggregate used is fine

quartz sand to give strength to
the concrete. By replacing
coarse aggregate with fine sand,
the size of the micro fissures
linked to intrusions in traditional
concrete is greatly reduced.

Beijing Kaibiyuan

The worlds of David Darling

Century Minimetals

Considering that the high cost

of UHPFRC is a disadvantage
that restricts its wider usage,
some industrial by-products
such as silica fume have been
used as partial cement
replacements.

Jeffry Franky Tumatar

A high % by volume (2.5 to

10%) special types steel fibres
are used. The presence of the
steel fibres is essential to
enhance the post-cracking
tensile strength and to improve
the ductility of the material.

Silica fume
Since the 1980s, silica fume has been used extensively around the world to produce high
performance concrete. Today, more than 10 million cubic metres of concrete containing silica
fume is placed each year. One of the most used product is Elkem Microsilica. It is used in
concrete to promote high quality concrete technology, and the benefits of advanced concrete
materials, such as durable infrastructure, advanced concrete structures and sustainable high
quality concrete construction. Elkem Microsilica powder is delivered in bulk, big-bags or
small bags, either as undensified (bulk density approx. 200 kg/m3) or densified (bulk density
500-700 kg/m3), depending on the application.

Superplasticizer

Superplasticizers, also known as high range water reducers, are chemical admixtures
used where well-dispersed particle suspension is required. These polymers are used
as dispersants to avoid particle segregation (gravel, coarse and fine sands), and to
improve the flow characteristics of concrete. Their addition to concrete or mortar
allows the reduction of the water to cement ratio, not affecting the workability of the
mixture, and enables the production of self-consolidating concrete and high
performance concrete.

Aquaproof Website

Steel fibres

Steel fibres mixed into the concrete can provide an alternative to the provision of conventional steel bars or welded
fabric in some applications. The concept has been in existence for many years (the first patent was applied for in
1874). Fibres are usually used to control cracking due to plastic shrinkage and to drying shrinkage.

Steel fibres can:
Improve structural strength
Reduce steel reinforcement requirements
Improve ductility
Reduce crack widths and control the crack widths tightly,
thus improving durability
Improve impact and abrasionresistance
Improve freeze-thaw resistance

Coal Age Website

FP McCann Website

Ready Mix Online

Typical
Composition

Component Material

Normal concrete (kg/m3)

UHPFRC (kg/m3)

Cement

330

705

Silica fume

230

Quartz sand

210

Coarse Aggregate

1040

Sand

850

1010

Superplasticizer

17

Steel fibres

190

Water

180

195

Typical composition (Dallaire et al., 1998)

D&D Pr-Moldados

Mixing Procedure
Several researchers recommend to mix all fine dry particles first before adding water and high-range water
reducer (HRWR). It is because small particles tend to agglomerate and it is easier to break these chunks when
the particles are dry. The specific mixing procedure was as follows:

In the first step both types of aggregate and silica fume were mixed for 5 min;
In the second step cement and glass powder were mixed for another 5 min;
At the end of the procedure water and HRWR were added. The addition of HRWR was gradual;
The mixture became fully workable after another 5 min.

HRWR addition

Water addition

Fibre addition

Prepaste consistency

U.S. Department of Transportation

Finished mix

Curing Procedure

Curing the concrete is essential for protect it from loss of water, what can affect its durability and
compressive strength. For UHPC, this is particularly important due to the small amount of water in its
composition. To prevent it from dehydration, the concrete needs to be protected with an impermeable
coat right after casting. In order to speed up the setting process, UHPC should pass through a heat
treatment, which usually is submitting the concrete to a 48 hours moist curing at 90C.

Wikihow Website

Shrinkage
A high amount of cement in a concrete usually can be a
synonymous for a large rate of shrinkage, however this problem
can be solved for UHPC with a heat treatment. One great
advantage of using this type of concrete is that the shrinkage
process will take place during the heat treatment. This means
that prefabricated parts will not shrink any further once it is
finished.

CBI Consulting Website

Durability
Another consequence of the heat treatment is improving the
creep of the material, which is essential for its durability. UHPC
has less than half of the creep coefficient for traditional
concrete. Besides that, this type of concrete does not need
steel rebar, and the lack of corroded material improves the
durability of the structure.
Clayton Tang

PROS CONS
x Limited research was developed on
strengthening of structures;

Self placing and have excellent fluidity;

Very high compressive strength as well as
high strength and tenacity in flexure;

The volume of needed concrete can be

significantly reduced;

x High material cost mainly because of the

large amount of cement used;

Significant dead load reductions and

comparative with steel structures due to the
very high strength;

Excellent material ductility giving improved

overload behaviour;

x Strict control of the mixing procedure is

essential and especially mixing times must be
strictly adhered to;

Improved durability and longer service life

with reduced maintenance;
Blast resistance;
High flexural strength reducing the need for
reinforcing steel and expanding the range of
structural shapes and forms;
Improves blast resistance of cladding panels
and walls while maintaining its standard
thicknesses and appearance.

x High energy consumption and CO2 emission;

x There is a need for further research and
development to close existing gaps of
knowledge and to come to a widespread
regular application based on
comprehensive technical regulations.

Availability
DUCTAL

Reactive powder concrete (RPC), a type of UHPFRC, is a material that

consists mainly of cement. Ductal, which was developed by Bouygues,
Lafarge and Rhodia, is a set of different types of RPC that have organic
fibres in its composition.
Ductal has been used in a large number of engineering projects, what
allows the company to study the behaviour of the material and improve it.
When talking about bridges, Ductal has already been used for beams,
girders, decks, piles, and joint fill for precast deck systems.
The Australian Company, VSL Infrastructure Protection, has been
fabricating Ductal for more than ten years, working on projects in New
Zealand and Australia.

Lafarge Website

CERACEM

In association with Sika, Eiffage has developed BSI (Bton Spcial

Industriel, or special industrial concrete), which later became Ceracem.
The French construction company, Eiffage, provides two types of
Ceracem: structural, for support elements, and architectural, for
decorative elements.

Eiffage Website

DUCORIT

Ducorit is another type of Ultra High Performance Concrete. It was

developed by Densit, a company whose head office is located in Denmark.
Densit provides different types of Ducorit, Ducorit S1, Ducorit S2,
Ducorit S5 and Ducorit D4, that have different properties due to
aggregates addition, such as quartz sand or bauxite.

Lafarge Website

Taktl Website

TAKTL

Taktl is a company based in Western Pennsylvania

that sells a type of UHPC. Taktl is not only the name of
the company, but also the name of their concrete.
Focusing in architectural applications, Taktl also
developed the VECTR Panels, with custom textures,
patterns, perforations, shapes, and profiles. The panels
contain Taktl and two different glass fibres in its
composition.

DURA

Dura is the patented name for a Malaysian

mixture of UHPC, or UHPdC, Ultra-High
Performance ductile Concrete.
T h e c o m p a n y, D u r a Te c h n o l o g y, w a s
established in 2006 and its head office is
located in Chemor, Malaysia.

Sustainability issues

Boma.org

A UHPFRC contains about twice the cement volume as

conventional concrete, and thus produces twice as
much CO2 and consumes twice as much energy in
production. Yet experience using UHPFRC shows that if
used appropriately, the quantities of material used in a
structure can be divided by two or three. A UHPFRC
structure therefore provides a slight gain in terms of
initial CO2 footprint and energy compared to a
conventional solution.

It also offers a significant gain in terms of durability,

lightness and global economy of material. It is
therefore important to incorporate an anticipation of
sustainability earning enabled by UHPFRC solutions;
this is particularly relevant when searching for longlife or evolutive structures and when taking into
account economic cost, image, operating constrains
and the environmental costs of all operations of
maintenance required by traditional solutions.

APPLICATIONS

VSL website

Sherbrooke Bridge

The Sherbrooke Footbridge, built in 1997, is the first bridge to use

UHPC in Canada, and the first to use Ductal. The structure
consists of a space truss with a top UHPC, two UHPC bottom
chords, and truss diagonals made of steel tubes filled with UHPC.
Its top deck is 30 mm thick. The construction process consisted in
pre-casting two half-spans which were put together in order to
create a 60 m long span bridge.

VSL website

Lafarge website

Peace Footbridge
Lafarge website

The Sunyudo Footbridge, or Peace Footbridge, completed in

2002 in South Korea is an arch bridge with a single span of 120 m.
It is built from six precast pi-shaped girder and the deck is a slab
30 mm thick with transverse prestressing. The arch is supported at
its ends by two 9 m deep reinforced concrete foundations. This
bridge is the longest span UHPC bridge in the world.

St. Pierre La Cour Bridge

The first Ductal bridge in France was built over a railway line in
St. Pierre La Cour. It has a 19 m span, supports a 7.6 m reinforced
concrete road, pavement and a cycle lane and consists of precast
I-beams made of UHPC with no stirrups. The materials and
techniques used in the construction process allows the bridge to
have almost half of the weight that a conventional concrete
bridge would have. The project required one day for casting and
one day to bond the concrete slab in place.

Lafarge website

Lafarge website

Horikoshi Highway Bridge

The first use of UHPC in Japan was in the Horikoshi Highway
C-Ramp bridge. It is composed of four pretensioned UHPC
I-shaped girders and a regular concrete deck. The number of
girders would be 11 if conventional concrete was used in this
part of the process, and they would weight more individually. The
overall weight of the bridge was reduced by 30 percent.

Okuma, 2006, p. 6

Okuma, 2006, p. 9

Wapello County Bridge

In 2006, the first North American Ductal bridge was completed.
Situated in Iowa, the Wapello County Bridge is a single-span
bridge 34 m long, built with three UHPC I-girders that did not use
any rebar for shear stirrups.

U.S. Department of Transportation

U.S. Department of Transportation

Haneda Airport
The Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, is working in a project that
started in 2010 and will build a new runway over the sea. The pier
is made of two structures: steel pillars and their coatings, going
underwater to a depth of 70 meters, and a UHPC slab secured in
steel girders. The material was chosen due to its resistance, high
impermeability and lightweight.

Lafarge Website

Kurumaerabi Website

Sakata Mirai Footbridge

The Sakata Mirai Bridge is a single span, 50 m long and 2.4 m wide
footbridge. The deck is perforated to give the bridge better
resistance to wind deformation. The slab is made of UHPC and its
thickness is only 50 mm. The use of RPC contributes to the
construction of a lightweight bridge that need no reinforcing bars
and reduces the construction costs. If traditional concrete was
used, the bridge would weight almost five times more than the
UHPC one.

VSL Website

Lafarge Website

Papatoetoe Footbridge

Lafarge Website

Lafarge Website

The Papatoetoe is the first of a series of footbridges that were

constructed to allow pedestrian movement over the railway tracks
in Auckland, New Zealand. It is 175 m long and consist of ten
spans, most of them measuring 20 m, and they are formed with
two precast UHPC sections, that weight a lot less than if made
with traditional concrete. The UHPC beams were precast in a ten
week period and post-tensioned on site.

Shepherds Creek Bridge

Build in 2002, the Shepherds Creek Bridge spans 15 m. It is
located in New South Wales, Australia, and comprises 16 UHPC
girders and a reinforced concrete deck slab. The slab, 170 mm
thick, was placed above a UHPC formwork panel between the
beams. The panel is 25 mm thick, light weighted and increases
the durability of the deck.

VSL Website

VSL Website

The Shawnessy LRT Station

In the Shawnessy LRT Station was constructed the first
thin-shelled precast canopy roof system with Ductal. It is
made of thin canopies supported on structural columns,
also made with UHPC. The columns, which have
rectangular cross-sections and different size over the
height of the column, were reinforced with conventional
black steel rebars and then bolted to the cast-in-place
concrete beams.

Lafarge Website

Lafarge Website

Lafarge Website

Queen Sofia Museum

The expansion of the Queen Sofia Museum in Madrid, Spain,
required the construction of three new buildings on an existing
support structure made of steel columns that was not strong
enough. Therefore, the supporting columns were reinforced by
pouring RPC inside them. This provided greater resistance and
stability.
Lafarge Website

Living Bridges Project

The Project Living Bridges, developed by the architect Marc Mimram in association with Lafarge, aims to make bridges
become inhabitable structures. The reason for that lies on a high population growth rate. Marc Mimram believes that the role
of bridges should be reconsidered and that we should take advantage of the infrastructure, using it to connect two areas in a
more effective way. Using Lafarge UHPC, Ductal, it is possible to conciliate high strength and grace, enabling the project to
come true.

Marc Mimram Website

Marc Mimram Website

New York
In New York, a city with one of the largest populations in the world, the idea is to create a bridge that, besides
connecting two oposites banks, can offer residential potential. The use of UHPC is essential to create a high
strength structure with different architectural aspects.

La Courneuve
The park located in the region of La Courneuve, in France, seems to be excluded from the city due to a busy roadway.
This scenario can be easily remedied with the construction of a footbridge above the avenue, to get around the traffic,
connecting the city to the park. The project of a bridge that looks like a strip can be easily carried out using UHPC, which
increases the structural and plastic capacities of conventional concrete.

Marc Mimram Website

A superior material
Due to the superior mechanical
properties of the material, the Ultra High
Performance Concrete allows the
construction of slender, lightweight and
durable. The failure ductility of the
material is closer to the metal than the
ordinary concrete. The combination of
strength and ductility results in lower
structural dimensions, faster construction
time and longer spans design.
The Ultra High Performance Concrete is
also useful to withstand environments of
harsh conditions, such as offshore
structures and nuclear plants. Moreover,
the UHPC is ideal for places of special
protection, such as government facilities,
as it has excellent resistance to blast,
thermal insulation and heat resistance.

Ductal Website

Ductal Website

Ductal Website

Alternative uses
The architectural issues in Ultra High
Performance Concrete opens a range of
innovative opportunities concerning the
shape and volume of structures. Applications
vary, including lamps, chairs, balconies,
stairs, bus stops and awnings.

Alternative uses
Ductal Website

Ductal Website

Ductal Website

Alternative uses
Ductal Website

Ductal Website

Ductal Website

Colour and texture

With chameleon-like quality, UHPC is able to replicate colours
and textures, the final product can provide new freedoms in
Architecture Aesthetics. This is possible thanks to the addition
of pigments to the mixture. Moreover, finished surfaces may be
further protected from fading, blotching and graffiti, with the
use of clear-coat sealant.
Ductal Website

Ductal Website

Ductal Website

Ductal Website

Ductal Website

Colour and texture

VECTR Panels are comprised
of TAKTL reinforced with
Alkali Resistant (AR) Glass
Fibre and two layers of AR
Glass Fibre Mesh. Panels are
cast utilizing a proprietary,
automated production
process into molds that yield

Taktl Website

an intrinsic pattern and finish.

Additionally, special surface
effects can be created with
aggregates and/or a variety of
media-blasting techniques in
an automated, enclosed
blasting line.
Taktl Website

CASE STUDY

Arquivo

Introduction

Analysed structure: Pen Lan Lane Bridge

Location: A55 Chester to Holyhead trunk road
Objective: Analyse and compare the behaviour of the
bridge columns, if the conventional concrete was
replaced by UHPFRC, and the bridge location was
altered to Curitiba, Brazil.

Pen Lan Lane Bridge

Arquivo

Arquivo

Dimensions

Loads
The imposed loads were based on the
Brazilian code Reinforced Concrete and
Prestressed Concrete Bridges Project (NBR
7187:2002).

Dead Loads
Live Loads
Impact Loads

Traffic Loads

Dead Loads

Live Loads
Vertical Loads
The values of live loads are determined by the code or by
the owner of the work.

Structure weight
The specific weight for simple concrete should be
assumed to a minimum value of 24 kN/m and 25 kN/m
for reinforced or prestressed concrete.

Paving
The minimum value of 24 kN/m must be adopted for
specific weight of the material employed, with an
additional load of 2 kN/m, considering a possible
resurfacing.

Construction Loads
Throughout the design and the structural calculations, the
loads that may be imposed during the construction period
should be considered, especially those due to equipment
weight and auxiliary structures of assembling and launching
structural elements weight and their effects at each stage
of work.

Temperature variations
The temperature variations should be considered as
stated in section 11 of the Brazilian code NBR 6118: 2003.
Considering that the bridge would be built in Curitiba,
the average thermal variation used was 15C.

Traffic Loads
Representative loads system of characteristic values of loads from the traffic that the structure is subjected in service. The
critical position of the load is achieved by using influence lines.

Impact Loads
The pillars that are subjected to road vehicles or vessels impacts must have their security verified due to possible shocks.

GSA Analysis
The first programme used to analyse the bridge was the GSA Analysis, Oasys Limited Company, which calculates the
elastic behaviour of structures. The software is able to provide deformation graphics, axial force, shear forces and bending
moments, from inputs that the user provides. Among these inputs, it is important to emphasize internal and external
forces, section of the structure, material properties and general dimensions of the structure. Below are some images of the
structure in the programme before and after applying the loads, with the resulting deformations.

The Structure

The output data of the programme are displayed in tables, as

shown above. The beams and colums are enumerated relating
directly to the previous image. The strength of an element at
any point is the force required to maintain the balance if the
element was isolated at this point, not considering the other
end of the element. Therefore, it is important to note that:

Positive axial forces are tensile forces.

Forces and moments are considered toward the
axis of the element, i.e.:
Fx: Axial Force;
Fy and Fz: Shear Forces;
Mxx: Torsion;
Myy and Mzz: Bending Moments.

The Structure

Shear Force Chart

Bending Moment Chart

Impact Load

COLLISION LOAD
Axis ZX

An important observation to be made is related to the

impact loads that can occur in the structure. This load is
due to the fact that the bridge is located above a
highway, which means that the vehicles in transit there
may collide with the columns of viaduct. According to
the current regulations, the collision loads generate
moments that should be considered.

Axis ZY

500 kN

250 kN

1000 kN

500 kN

1.0 m
1.0 m

DIAGRAMS
Axis ZX

Axis ZX
Shear (kN)

Bending (kNm)

500
1000

1500

Shear (kN)

Bending (kNm)

250
500

2000

500

750

250

1000

Aside are the diagrams of Shear Forces

and Bending Moments for each axis of the
columns. These calculations were done by
hand. The Bending Moments should be
added to the results of the corresponding
axes generated by GSA Analysis.

Oasys Limited

4500 mm

After determining the forces to which the columns of the bridge are submitted,
it is necessary to test whether the elements, with its defined materials and
sections, bear the forces applied on them. For this, it is interesting to use the
software Adsec, also from Oasys Limited.

1500 mm

From the section of an element, the material used in it and details of the frame of the structure, the program creates the
axial load and bending moment interaction chart, where you can test if the given element supports its load conditions.
Observing the output data of GSA Analysis, the point used should be that in which the axial force and bending moment
have their maximum values. If the point is located within the region bounded by the red line, then the structure supports
the forces applied on it.

Loads of Reinforced Concrete Structures

Therefore, it is necessary to define input data for the
two bridge analysed. The materials used are reinforced
concrete and Ultra High Performance Concrete. The
input data used in GSA Analysis for the original bridge,
made of reinforced concrete, are:

Dead Loads: 26.51 kN/m;

Live Loads: (4.8 kN/m for pedestrians and
14.4 kN/m for vehicles);
Temperature variation: 15 C uniform;
Weight of the structure.
Esacademic

Final test of Reinforced Concrete Bridge

Finally, the output data of the elements of the bridge made
with reinforced concrete, added to the exceptional load
calculated previously, are:

These data, when analysed in Adsec, result in the

graph beside. As shown, the point related to the

Maximum Axial force: -5400 kN;

Maximum Shear Forces: -8200 kN;
Maximum Bending moment: 32200 kNm

maximum forces to which the columns are

subjected is acceptable within the delimited
region, showing that the structure is working as
expected.

An important detail to be highlighted is the fact
that the point on the graph is very close to the
bounding line. This means that the sizing of the
structure is accurate and the construction will not
require more material than necessary.

Loads of Ultra High Performance

Concrete Structures
For the analysis of the Ultra High Performance
Concrete structure, it is necessary to follow the
same line of thought as the previous example.
T h e re f o re , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o p u t t h e
corresponding input data. As the UHPFRC has
compressive strength far superior to normal
concrete, the column is hollow, as the image
shows. As well as for reinforced concrete, the
loads to which the structure is subjected are:

Dead Loads: 26.51 kN/m;

Live Loads: (4.8 kN/m for pedestrians and
14.4 kN/m for vehicles);
Temperature variation: 15 C uniform;
Weight of the structure.

Copel Website

Copel Website

Final Test Of Ultra High Performance

Concrete Bridge
The output data for the bridge UHPFRC bridge,

SLS Analysis

added to the previously calculated exceptional

Moment of Inertia
I = bh3/12
I = (450015003/12) (416011603/12)
I = 7.251011 mm4

Area
A = bh
A = (45001500 (41601160)
A = 1924400 mm2
A=1.92 m2

Section Modulus
Z = I/y
Z = (7.251011)/750
Z = 970000000 mm3
Z = 0.97 m3

loads, are:

Maximum Axial force -4900 kN;
Maximum shear force: -8500 kN;
Maximum Bending moment: 35500 kNm

From these data, the calculations of Serviceability
limit State and Ultimate Limit State are made to
verify that the structure supports the loads to
which it is subjected. The calculations are shown
below.

Final Test Of Ultra High Performance

Concrete Bridge

Test
= (P/A) (M/Z)

Using P=64800 kN and considering each strand

resisting 300 kN, temos:

= [(P+4945)/1.92] (35500/0.97)

Minimum value > 0

64800/300 = 216 strands

Will be 4 different positions for the cables, so:

{[(P+4945)/1.92] (35500/0.97)} > 0

216/4 = 54 strands each side

We chose use 2 cables 27c15 instead one with 54
cables.

P > 65000 kN

Maximum value < 0.6180MPa=108 MPa

=108000 kN/m2
{[(P+4945)/1.92] + (35500/0.97)} < 108000

Area of cables = 27150=4050 mm2

Total diameter = [(area 4)/]0.5 = 71 mm

P < 132000 kN

Final Test Of Ultra High Performance

Concrete Bridge

ULS Analysis

Fsteel = 2722300 = 32400 kN

Fconcrete = 180000 x E (E = section thickness)

32400 = 180000 x E
E = 0.18 m = 180 mm

Mu = 324001.03 = 33300 kNm

Considering 10% of tolerance in the results, the concrete bridge made with UHPFRC is acceptable.

CONCLUSIONS

Ductal Website

Introduction

Throughout this project, research was made about Ultra High Performance Concrete. History, mechanical
characteristics, examples of previous use, alternative uses, future projections and case study were some of the points
discussed. Therefore, it is suitable for the data exposed to be discussed and evaluated.

Cost

DCAA Website

Being a work of Civil Engineering, one of the key factors to

be considered in the construction of any type of
infrastructure is the budget. Taking into consideration the
project analysed, with its sections and measures already
previously defined, it is possible to calculate the price
difference between the construction of the columns of the
structure made with Ultra High Performance Concrete and
reinforced concrete.

Reinforced Concrete: 26400.00
UHPFRC: 18400.00

Material

Price

Unit

Normal Concrete

100.00

per m

would be 7 days, for the bridge that uses UHPC and 5

UHPC

1000.00

per m

weeks for the bridge that uses normal concrete. It's easy to

Formwork

65.96

per m2

Reinforcement

1100.00

per tonne

Traffic
Maintenance

500.00

per day

It was considered, in this case, that the construction time

see that even though the unit price of the Ultra High
Performance Concrete is about ten times more expensive
than normal concrete, the final value is inferior.

Construction Time

Cowi Website

Infraestrutura urbana Website

Since the UHPFRC is precast, the construction of the bridge made with this material is much faster than with reinforced
concrete. This is of extreme importance on the construction site of the structure in question, where it is necessary to
interdict part of a road to start the work. The obstruction of a lane generates economic loss, inconvenience to the drivers
and requires alternative routes. Thus, it is essential for the construction to be done in the shortest time possible.

Iitalian Construction Website

Quality Control

Another important aspect related to the fact that

Security Construction Website

the concrete is precast, is that there is a quality

control more rigorous than in the construction of
the columns with normal concrete. The elements
of UHPFRC shall be produced by a third party
company, which means that the problems arising
from the on-site construction of the columns will
be eliminated.

Matt Construction Website

Safety

It is still possible to note that the precast UHPFRC contributes

not only to the safety of workers, but also for the work in
general. Once the precast elements are bought and
transported by another company, fewer workers will be
needed within the construction site. These workers will be
responsible primarily for assembling the structure with
appropriate machinery. Besides decreasing the running time
of the work, this increases significantly the risk assessment
within the construction site.

Sindtran Website

Sustainability
Based on data previously exposed about the composition of Normal Concrete and Ultra High Performance concrete, it is
possible to calculate the amount of cement required for the construction of each one of the viaduct columns from the
study case analysed.

NC: 15000 kg

UHPC: 9000 kg

It is possible to observe that, despite the higher percentage of cement in the UHPC composition, the normal concrete
spends more cement on each column. This is due to the fact that the sections are hollow and solid, respectively.
Therefore, UHPC is a relatively sustainable material, since it makes use of less cementitious material in total, which
consumes a lot of energy in its production and emits various pollutants in the atmosphere.

Colegio Web Website

Sustainability

Being a public infrastructure that will be highly used for several years, the viaduct must necessarily be a durable construction. As
already mentioned earlier, the Ultra high performance concrete is more durable, have a longer service life and requires less
maintenance. This is due to the fact that UHPFRC does not uses reinforcement liable to corrosion and its high density make the
water absorption difficult.

Final Considerations
One pro of using Ultra High Performance concrete mentioned earlier, is the fact that it has a higher impact resistance due
to the presence of tiny fibres. This increases the ductility of the material. In the analysis of the UHPFRC bridge, it has not
been possible to measure this advantage numerically, so a conservative position regarding Impact Loads of vehicles that
may collide with the columns of the structure was considered.
Ecplaza website

Cordec do Brasil

Comit Obras BR Blogspot

There is still a lot of reluctance in the industry to adopt this new material, even in developed countries. One of the reasons
for that is the fact that there are not many codes and standards available for the Ultra High Performance Concrete. In
addition, the designers are not yet familiar with the material, which would mean hiring a specialist for the development of a
project.


Therefore, it is essential for more research to be done and for standards and codes to
be created and updated so that the UHPFRC is used effectively. Finally, it is
important to note that it takes some time for the industry to trust and
adopt a new material. The Ultra High Performance Concrete is a
very promising type of concrete that can be used in various
architectural and structural applications, which makes
it one of the biggest bets in the civil
construction industry for
years to come.

Taktl Website

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