Ultra High Performance Concrete Panels for Prefabricated Wall Assemblies

Please note: The attached file below contains a paper from the BEST5 conference that is linked to a conference presentation in pdf format. Open with Adobe Acrobat for best results.

Architectural Ultra-High Performance Concrete in thin cladding panels has been established as highly suitable material for high performance back ventilated and drained cavity wall facades. This paper investigates the current applications of A|UHPC in unitized/panelized wall systems and the potential uses and innovations possible with A|UHPC mechanical properties, characteristics, and manufacturing methods. Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) offers new capabilities for structural and aesthetic architectural applications. UHPC is an order of magnitude stronger and more ductile than high strength precast concrete, and it performs exceptionally well in demanding environmental conditions. Its strength derives from the carefully calibrated ratio of engineered ingredients and a mixing sequence that packs molecules together closely to create very tight bonds.

The high packing density yields excellent flexural and compressive strength, while virtually eliminating the capillary pores that cause freeze-thaw degradation in other cement-based products. Its distinct material properties provide opportunities for greater spans, thinner profiles, more complex geometries, and higher performance in extreme climates than glass fiber reinforced concretes (GFRC), terracotta, or metal reinforced pre-cast concrete products, while maintaining competitive installation costs.