Foresight of research directions for high-performance concrete

Abstract

The continuous development of civil infrastructure has been imposing more and more stringent requirements on concrete, including high strength, high workability, high durability and high dimensional stability. However, since the various performance attributes of high-performance concrete (HPC) are often contradictory to each other and thus difficult to achieve simultaneously, the development of HPC has come to a bottle neck. To cope with such situation, a more scientific approach is needed. Here, we explain how the conventional concrete technology could be reformed into modem concrete science by incorporating new theories about packing density, water film thickness and particle interaction, and discuss the societal need and future development of green concrete. It is our belief that with further advancement in concrete science and technology, even better HPC could be produced for sustainable construction.