Experimental Investigations of the Dimensional Stability and Durability of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete

An experimental investigation was conducted to provide further insight into the material properties of UHPC. The aspects of UHPC performance investigated in this work included dimensional and chemical stability, sorption resistance, and freeze-thaw durability. UHPC was found to produce the desired balance of dimensional and chemical stability, and distinctly low sorptivity and water absorption capacity. The drying shrinkage of UHPC was 25% less than that of normal-strength Portland cement concrete. The moisture sorptivity of UHPC was an order of magnitude below that of normal-strength concrete. The heat of hydration of the UHPC paste was about one-third that of Portland cement paste used in a normal-strength concrete mix. The UHPC paste, unlike a normal Portland cement paste, exhibited autogenous shrinkage; the amount of this shrinkage was, however, relatively small. These test results were explained based on the distinctly low water content, the high pozzolan content of the cementitious binder in UHPC, and the high dosage of superplasticizer used in UHPC mixtures. The fact that water content of UHPC is not adequate for thorough hydration of cementitious particles seems to be a significant factor influencing those aspects of the UHPC behaviour evaluated in this investigation.