Many recent innovations in advanced concrete materials technology have made it possible to produce concrete with exceptional performance characteristics. High Performance Concrete (HPC) is defined as concrete which meets special performance and uniformity requirements that cannot always be achieved by using only the conventional materials and normal mixing, placing and curing practices. The performance requirements may involve enhancements of: placement and compaction without segregation, long-term mechanical properties, early-age strength, toughness, volume stability, or service life in servere environments. International Workshop on High Performance Concrete addresses technical papers presented during the workshop. A total of 32 papers are included and cover subjects including: * Self-compactable high-performance concrete in Japan * Durability of DSP mortars exposed to conditions of wetting and drying * Ferrocement: Applications for urban environment * Studies of high-performance concrete structural members * High performance and durability through design * United States government's role in high-performance materials for infrastructure * Tensile properties of high-performance concrete * High-performance concretes for highway applications * Bending properties of high early strength fiber reinforced concrete * High-strength concrete research for buildings and bridges Note: The individual papers are also available as .pdf downloads.. Please click on the following link to view the papers available, or call 248.848.3800 to order. SP159

Ferrocement is a type of thin-wall reinforced concrete with high performance characteristics such as high tensile strength to weight ratio, ductility, and impact resistance. Basic considerations of the materials used, fine galvanized wire mesh and a cement mortar coupled with its good crack controlling characteristics, indicated that ferrocement will provide better durability, ease of maintenance, and lower life cycle cost. It can be cost competitive through mechanized production and proper choice of reinforcement. The National University of Singapore has since the early 1970's made considerable efforts in popularizing ferrocement through research and development. Several studies have been conducted on the application and performance of prototype ferrocement structural elements. Some of the applications such as sunscreens, secondary roofing slabs, and water tanks for high-rise buildings are presented in this paper.

In the United States, the primary use of high-strength concretes has been in columns of high-rise buildings. However, in recent years high-strength concrete has been used in applications where durability is important. This has resulted in research into material and structural properties other than compressive strength. This paper summarizes selected research projects in the United States. In materials research, projects have been conducted to identify the relationship between water-cementitious ratio and compressive strength, the development of compressive strength with time, and the effects of heat of hydration on in-place material properties. Research has also been conducted to assess the testing procedures to be used with high-strength concrete. Specific projects include work on the use of smaller test specimens and different capping materials. In structural research, projects have been conducted to identify how the structural performance of high-strength concrete members differs from that of conventional strength concrete members. Specific research projects have involved investigations of modulus of elasticity, creep, shrinkage, development length, shear strength, and column strength. Although research is underway on a number of topics, additional work is still needed to answer questions about the applicability of code provisions for high-strength concrete. A list of specific topics is included in the paper.

High Performance/High Strength Concrete (HPC/HSC) has been used in a number of projects in Australia. Research on HPC/HSC is currently in progress in a number of centers around the country. The author and his research team at Curtin University have been engaged in research on the behavior and the strength of HPC/HSC structural members for the past five years. The research comprises experimental and analytical studies on columns under eccentric compression, structural walls subjected to horizontal and vertical loads, shear strength of beams, bond strength and bar splice lengths, and concrete-filled steel tubular composite columns. The test specimens were made using the HPC/HSC supplied by a commercial ready mix plan in Perth, Western Australia. The research was funded by the Australian Research Council Grants and by the industry. This paper summarizes the application of HPC/HSC in Australia, the current research at Curtin, and the future research needs.

Flowable concrete has been used for a long time in Thailand and has been known as tremy concrete for bored pile construction. For this type of concrete, strength may be less important in early development, but workability must satisfy the performance in construction. In the second stage of development, research has concentrated on high strength concrete. Even though higher strengths have been achieved, workability of the concrete may be slightly poor. Several studies have emphasized utilization of concrete here high strength can be an advantage. The structural members were both reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete; and the emphasis was placed on flexure, shear, and compression. In recent development, both workability in the fresh state and strengths in the hardened states have been considered so as to satisfy the performance in workability, strengths, serviceability, and durability. Efforts have been concentrated on constituent materials for high performance concrete, mix proportions, and concrete properties. Satisfactory structural behaviors for compression, flexure, and shear in reinforced and prestressed concrete members have been reported. Various developments to suit particular applications such as bored pile, mass concrete, structural concrete, and durable concrete have been made for the construction industry. Demands of HPC are growing, further development and utilization are expected.