HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE

Concrete has been since a long time a major material for providing a stable and reliable infrastructure .Concrete with compressive strengths of 20 - 40N/mm2 have been traditionally used in construction projects. With the demand for more sophisticated structural forms along wi th deterioration, long term poor performance of a conventional concrete led to accelerated research for development of concrete which would score on all the aspects that a new material is evaluated upon i.e. workability, durability, affordability and thus enable the construction of sustainable and economic buildings with an extra ordinary slim designs besides providing material that will have long term better performance and reduced maintenance. The development of High Strength Concrete has been a great bre akthrough in Concrete Technology. High strength concrete (HSC) may be defined as concrete with a specified characteristic cube strength between 40 and 100 N/mm2, although higher strengths have been achieved and used. Strength levels of 80 to 100 N/mm2and e ven higher are being used for both precast and in - situworks.High Strength Concrete is specified where reduced weight is important or where architectural considerations require smaller load carrying elements. The use of high strength concrete offers numerou s advantages in the sustainable and economical design of structures.