HPC Implementation Status

This paper describes how, since the initiation of the AASHTO/SHRP Lead States Team concept for high performance concrete (HPC) over 10 years ago, there has been an aggressive effort by the concrete industry, State DOTs, and the FHWA to achieve nationwide implementation of HPC on bridge projects. Outstanding progress has been made in response to the FHWA Executive Director's 1997 challenge to construct at least one HPC bridge in every state by 2002. HPC Bridge Views has reported on many of these projects as well as the efforts of the FHWA’s HPC Technology Delivery Team to keep HPC in the forefront. Recently, the Team conducted a 14- question national survey to track this progress and other related concrete issues. On a preliminary basis, the map indicates which states have included HPC in bridge specifications in the last 10 years. Thirty-seven respondents selected HPC for low permeability, 30 for high strength, and 26 for both performance criteria. As background on why HPC was being used, respondents ranked deck cracking at ages less than 5 years as the most common distress, followed by corrosion of reinforcing steel, cracking of girders and substructure elements, and freeze-thaw damage.