REACTIVE POWDER CONCRETE

Presentation by:Alok Ranjan

Roll No. : 13CE01013
School of Infrastructure
 Introduction

Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) is a developing

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composite material that will allow the concrete

industry to optimize material use, and build structures
that are strong, durable, and sensitive to
environment.
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RPC is better known for its ultra-high strength and

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durability.
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RPC possesses better strength (both compressive and
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HPC has achieved the maximum compressive strength
in its existing form of microstructure.
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However, at such a level of strength, the coarse
aggregate becomes the weakest link in concrete.
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In order to increase the compressive strength of

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concrete even further, the only way is to remove the

coarse aggregate. This philosophy has been employed
in Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC).
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The concept of reactive powder concrete was first
developed by P. Richard and M. Cheyrezy and RPC
was first produced in the early 1990s by researchers at
Bouygues’ laboratory in France.
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A field application of RPC was done in canada and
the world’s first Reactive Powder Concrete structure,
the Sherbrooke Bridge in Canada, was erected in July
1997.
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 COMPOSITION OF REACTIVE
POWDER CONCRETE
RPC is composed of :
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Sand(100 to 600mm diameter)

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Cement
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Quartz powder
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Silica fumes(25% of volume of concrete)

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Superplasticizer
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Steel fibres(upto 0.2mm dia. And 12mm length)

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Superplasticizers: It is used at its optimal dosage.
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Decreases the water to cement(w/c) ratio.
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Increases the workability of the concrete.
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Steel fibres: Improve ductility.

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Sand:Provides strength.
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Silica fumes:Filling the voids.

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Cement:Binding material.
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Quartz powder:Maximum reactivity during heat treating.It
fills grade between sand and cement particles making the
matrix denser.
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The water to cement ratio used in RPC ranges from 0.15 to
0.25.
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The material having the largest particle size in RPC is the
sand.
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A very dense matrix is achieved by optimizing the
granular packing of the dry fine powders. This compactness
gives RPC ultra-high strength and durability.
 PROPERTIES OF RPC
1. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
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Normal RPC provides compressive strength upto
200Mpa.
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But by the optimum use of quartz sand ,steel
agreegate and heat treatment ,a compressive strength of
600-800Mpa can be obtained.
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The RPC family includes two types of concrete,
designated as RPC 200 and RPC 800.
 Comparison of RPC 200 and RPC 800
RPC 200 RPC 800

Pre-setting pressurization None 50Mpa

Heat treating 20 to 90°C 250 to 400°C

Compressive 170 to 230 MPa 490 to 680 MPa

strength(using quartz
sand)
Compressive 650 to 810 Mpa
strength(using steel -----------
agreegates)
Flexural strength 30 to 60 MPa 45-141 Mpa
2.FLEXURAL STRENGTH:
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Due to the presence of steel fibres RPC possesses higher flexural
strength.
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It may range from 30-141 Mpa.

3.Water Absorption:
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The percentage of water absorption of RPC is very
low .It is one of its property which encourages its use
as a nuclear waste containment material.
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The incorporation of fibres and the use of heat curing
is seen to marginally increase the water absorption.
Water absorption of RPC and HPC
4.WATER PERMEABILITY:
 5.RESISTANCE TO CHLORIDE ION
PENETRATION
RPC (NC) RPC(HWC) RPC with RPC with
fibres(NC) fibres(HWC)
Cumulative 4 94 140 400
Charge
passed in
Coulombs
ASTM C1202 Negligible Negligible Very Low Very Low
classification

●High chlorine ion penetration property of RPC makes

it suitable for use in nuclear waste containment
structures.
 6. DURABILITY
Long life:
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Abrasion wear : 2.5 times lower.

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Water absorpton : 7 times lower.

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Rate of Corrosion : 8 times lower.

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Chlorine ion diffusibility : 25 times lower.

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7.Compactness:Application of pressure before and
during the setting period of concrete to obtain
maximum density.
 APPLICATIONS
1. RPC is light-weight material.So it can be used to
decrease the overall dead load of the struture.
2. Containment of Nuclear wastes:
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Used for isolation and containment of nuclear wastes
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It has been used for blocking & stabilization of
containment waste.
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Owing to its high durability, RPC can even replace
steel in compression members.
 LIMITATIONS
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It is expensive as compared to high performance
concretes.
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Least costly components of conventional concrete is
basically replaced by expensive ones.
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RPC is still under developing phase .So,some of its
long term properties are still not well-known.
 CONCLUSION

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It has immense potential in construction due to
its mechanical strength and durability aspects.
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RPC has ultra dense microstructure giving
advantages of water proofing and durability
characteristics.
THANK YOU