Influence of Materials in the Production of UHPC: A Review

Concrete is a material that is used extensively in construction activities and needs to undergo various sustainability changes to be future-ready as its use increases daily. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) contains attributes rich in Portland cement (PC), silica fumes (SF), silica sand, superplasticizer, and a significant amount of steel (or) organic fibres that surpass conventional concrete in several ways. UHPC is a relatively recent category of cementitious materials characterized by extremely high strength, ductility, and durability. UHPC reinforced with fibre can be considered a combination of three concrete technologies: self-compacting concrete (SCC), fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC), and high-performance concrete (HPC). According to the previous literature, the maximum water-to-binder ratio of UHPC has been found to be 0.25, indicating that the compressive strength will be ten times more than conventional concrete. This article offers the identification and fundamental principles of materials that could be used to produce UHPC. Although prior studies have addressed this topic, the present work is unique in presenting essential details about materials that have been used till date with different combinations to create UHPC. The review discusses materials’ chemical and physical characteristics and combinations that can be interpreted in the UHPC. The literature shows that steel fibre and SF utilization has shown better results when quantity was restricted to 2 and 25% as it enhances durability and mechanical properties. Prior studies quoted that properties improved by including industrial wastes in varying percentages.