The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University

Published purpose

Canada’s infrastructure is deteriorating and vulnerable to disasters. About 12.4% of Canadian Bridges (9,661 Bridges or Tunnels) are in poor/very poor condition, which require immediate rehabilitation or replacement. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is an advanced class of concrete materials that show superior mechanical and durability performance. UHPC is an ideal material for prefabrication since it can reduce the self-weight of conventional concrete structures by over 50%, effectively making it easier to transport and assemble the prefabricated members. However, UHPC application is hindered by the high initial costs and the lack of understanding of environmental impacts of UHPC solutions. Therefore, this Project aims to develop low-cost, environmental-friendly UHPC bridge solutions that can be used to quickly replace existing aging infrastructure as well as conduct a life-cycle assessment to evaluate its environmental impacts and document the productivity benefits. The objective is to minimize the total costs and environmental impacts with enhanced productivity.