Transforming Precast ConcreteTransforming Precast Concrete

Monica Schultes, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute

This article appears in the Fall 2020 issue of Ascent, published by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. To read the full article, click here.

While concrete has been around is some form for thousands of years, the newest iteration, ultra-high performance concete (UHPC), is creating a stir. UHPC has been used to build bridges and architectural facades around the globe, but in the U.S., it has been used on a more limtied basis, seeing its widest use in joints and connections. 

Ongoing research and development efforts are looking to change that. WIth only small adjustments, this technology can have a big impact and be adopted in both building and transportation construction. The U.S. precast concrete industry is well-suited to capitalize on the unique performance charctersitics of UHPC and has made substantial strides over the years, bolstered by the material's cost-effectiveness and ease of construction. The industry has invested in equipment, materials, and technology. And working with creative designers, archtects, and engineers who embrace modular construction has heightened the advantages of precast concrete. The next innovation destined to move the industry forward is UHPC.

To read the rest of this article in Ascent, click here. To read an insightful editorial from this issue of Ascent on the durability and resilience of precast concrete, click here.