Title:
Structural Design Guidance for UHPC
Author(s):
Benjamin Graybeal
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_S22_BenjaminGraybeal.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
3/28/2022
Abstract:
As a new class of concrete that exhibits mechanical properties distinct from conventional concrete, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is facilitating the development of novel structural configurations that rely on the sustained tensile capacity and the high compressive capacity of this material. However, the lack of formal structural design guidance has hindered the application of UHPC in the United States. The US Department of Transportation’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center has engaged in a multi-year effort to draft the guidance necessary for structural design of UHPC bridges. This draft guidance parallels the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications while proposing mechanical models and structural behavior models that conservatively align with the behaviors expected from UHPC-class materials. The guidance is founded upon basic principles of mechanics of materials, avoiding empiricism where possible and relying on engineering parameters obtained from material-scale standardized tests to predict structural-scale responses. The presentation will provide an overview of the guidance, focusing on concepts central to its understanding and use.