Particle Packing Concept for Ultra High Performance Concrete

Abstract

Ultra High performance concrete (UHPC) has become more and more popular in recent years. However, the various required performance attributes of UHPC, including strength, workability, dimensional stability and durability, often impose contradictory requirements on the mix parameters to be adopted, thereby rendering the concrete mix design a very difficult task. The conventional mix design methods are no longer capable of meeting the stringent multiple requirements of UHPC. In this project we will use the concept of packing density as a fundamental principle for designing UHPC mixes. The concept is based on the belief that the performance of a concrete mix can be optimized by maximising the packing densities of the aggregate particles and the cementitious materials.