Sustainable Portland Limestone Cement-based (Ultra) High-Performance Concrete

Presented By: Luca Galli, University of Miami
This research investigates the development of sustainable ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) mixtures by replacing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with Portland limestone cement (PLC) and industrial by-products such as ultra-fine limestone, fly-ash, and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag. The rheology, mechanical performances, and durability of PLC-based UHPC mixed with steel and polyethylene fibers were evaluated and compared to a commercially available UHPC. A sustainability analysis showed the environmental benefits of the PLC-UHPC mixtures in reducing the concrete carbon footprint. Considering the transition of the US cement industry towards PLC and the sustainability and durability challenges of traditional concrete structures, the presented results strengthen the promotion of sustainable UHPC as an effective solution to the necessity of a "greener" and more durable concrete, providing at the same time valuable indications on the adoption of PLC to these methodologies.