Practical issues for the application of high-performance concrete to highway structures

In recent years, the advantages of high-performance concrete (HPC) have been well documented. Among others, these advantages include enhanced design flexibility and improved durability performance that results in reduced maintenance costs and an increased service life. Despite these obvious benefits, the implementation of HPC has been very slow. This can be attributed to several factors including the uncertainty related to current design codes and a lack of familiarity of designers and contractors with practices and requirements for proper design and construction of high-performance concrete structures. This paper introduces and discusses several fundamental issues that affect the implementation of HPC and impact the practitioner. These include issues related to quality control/quality assurance, specifications, material performance, and structural behavior. Within the scope of this discussion, the fundamental differences and similarities between HPC and conventional concrete are discussed. The objective of this discussion is to provide the practicing engineer with a conceptual understanding of the practical issues that affect the design and use of HPC for highway structures with the desire to further stimulate the implementation of HPC.