Brief
Discover the pioneering strides of Clare County Road Commission in collaboration with the University of Michigan: Introducing Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) designed for lifetime durability.
Insight
The Clare County Road Commission consistently showcases pioneering methodologies in road construction and maintenance. Over recent years, they’ve closely collaborated with the University of Michigan to develop a groundbreaking material called Ultra High-Performance Concrete or UHPC.
Diverging from traditional concrete which predominantly consists of stones, UHPC is primarily formulated from powder, sand, and steel fibres. As described by Greg Hilyard, the road foreman at Clare County Road Commission, this robust product boasts an exceptional density. It offers superior breaking strength, being impermeable to water, ensuring it remains resilient for generations to come.
To provide some context, while the breaking strength of conventional concrete on the global scale averages 4,000 PSI, this avant-garde material astonishes with a strength of 25,000 PSI. The remarkable quality of UHPC is its resistance to cracking, which directly translates to roads devoid of potholes.
Hilyard, reflecting on his experience from two decades ago, marvels at this evolution, “Having worked with concrete 20 years back, it’s incredible to witness such a transformative product today.”
To date, the road commission proudly announces the construction of two bridges employing UHPC. While the initial costs might be slightly elevated, the long-term benefits and savings are undeniable.
Reinforcing its potential, the University of Michigan’s extensive research on UHPC suggests that it can effortlessly withstand a century without necessitating any maintenance. Ambitiously, the road commission envisages the completion of five bridges using this innovative concrete by the year’s close.
Highlight
- To provide some context, while the breaking strength of conventional concrete on the global scale averages 4,000 PSI, this avant-garde material astonishes with a strength of 25,000 PSI.
- The remarkable quality of UHPC is its resistance to cracking, which directly translates to roads devoid of potholes.
- The University of Michigan’s extensive research on UHPC suggests that it can effortlessly withstand a century without necessitating any maintenance.
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