Institute for Transportation

About the research

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) emerged in the early 2000s as a new class of cementitious materials distinguished by its exceptional durability, low or discontinuous porosity, and resistance to water and chemical ingress. These characteristics directly support the Federal Highway Administration’s objective to “Get in, Get out, and Stay out” by reducing deterioration and lowering long-term maintenance needs for bridge infrastructure. Over the past two decades, the Iowa Highway Research Board, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), and other collaborating DOTs have supported numerous projects exploring UHPC applications. Despite significant progress, UHPC use by the DOTs remains limited. Several reasons can be attributed, including the following: (1) identifying the most effective and impactful UHPC applications; (2) material and construction costs; (3) overcoming the concerns identified in recent UHPC projects; and (4) not being able to use life-cycle cost justification.

To help address these concerns, this pooled fund project aims to consolidate existing knowledge, identify research gaps, and develop a strategic roadmap to guide intentional increases in the use of this innovative material. This study will pursue the following objectives:

• Facilitate communication and information sharing among participating state DOTs and with attendees of the Fourth International Interactive Symposium on UHPC
• Establish a forum for technology and knowledge exchange to enhance practical understanding of UHPC implementation across member states
• Develop a strategic roadmap for increasing the future UHPC application, including identification of the most impactful use of UHPC; prioritization of research needs to increase those specific applications; and formulation of research ideas suitable for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, pooled funds, grants, and other funding mechanisms