Investigate national Study on Environmental Impact of Reactive Powder Concrete

Arjun Bhindora

This Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) is an ultra-high strength, low porosity material with high cement and silica fume contents, steel fibers, low water-binder ratios and a new generation superplasticizer. With compressive strength in excess of 200 MPa, tensile strength of 20-40 MPa, and high workability, RPC can be used readily in a wide variety of structural applications, including bridges. It is ideal for prestressed applications which is one of the important benefits. This paper strongly states usage of different material and their impact on the environment. A copolymer of acrylic ester (CAE), a poly naphthalene Sulfonate (PNS) and a polymelamine sulfonate (PMS) are normally employed for the purpose. These admixtures are synthetic polymers. Compressive strength is one of the factors linked with the durability of a material. In the context of nuclear waste containment materials, the compressive strength of RPC is higher than required. An opportunity to improve the sustainability of this industry by further exploring the use of alternative materials. Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) is a developing composite material that allows the concrete industry to optimize the material usage by generating economically benefits and helps the structure to become more strong, durable and sensitive to the environment. Furthermore, the RPC satisfactorily meets the requirement of practical application for Xiahou Bridge built with the RPC totally according to the calculation with finite element analysis software MIDAS/Civil. And the static loading testing result suggests that the design of the bridge meets the utilization requirements. Fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and limestone powder (LP) are used to replace cement, and their effects on the properties of the designed UHPC are analyzed. The results show that the influence of FA, GGBS or LP on the early hydration kinetics of the UHPC is very similar during the initial five days, while the hydration rate of the blends with GGBS is mostly accelerated afterward. The durability characteristics of RPC in such applications become paramount for the success of the containment of the wastes. The adverse environmental conditions at the disposal site could attack the concrete barrier and results in degradation of the material. It is resistant against aggressive environmental conditions and extreme climatic conditions.