Florida International University (FIU) was awarded a $3.2 million grant by the Army Corps of Engineers for research related to use of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) for additive construction (AC) applications. UHPC is a term used for any cement mixture that is composed of especially tiny particles and possesses a number of specific advantages over more widely-used concretes, in particular, improved compressive strength.
According to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), UHPC has been commercially available in the US since 2000. Despite its many advantages over other cementitious mixtures — which, in addition to greater strength, include superior workability and low water content — the higher cost of UHPC has likely stunted its potential for broader adoption.
