The Infinite Potentials of Concrete – and UHPC

Concrete in general is the single building material of the world with the highest potentials in all respects – and UHPC is the ultimate tool for unlocking the potentials…

 

In history concrete has always had the role of being the cutting edge of design freedom to meet both functional and structural dreams. One of the good old examples is of course the Pantheon Dome in Rome. This in-situ cast dome is from the year 110 ad. and it was extremely innovative in its time. It is still standing today as a marker in time – and inspiration for the next 2.000 years of concrete designs.

 

HBN Potentialer CoverPantheon in Rome, Italy

 

But after Pantheon the potentials of concrete were forgotten for many centuries – and it was reinvented and introduced again in a larger scale only 100 years ago.

In the past 100 years the general use of concrete have increased dramatically – for both precast and in-situ structures. It has been industrialized to the limits and potentials of the present technologies into the worlds largest consume – surrounding us every day – wherever we go or live.

 

But have we unlocked the true potentials?

In the past 20 years a lot of new technologies have emerged around concrete – 3D design and printing – CNC robot grinding – and new mould technologies like ex recyclable wax moulds. Also the concrete itself has been through a small revolution of development into new types of UHPC – and UHPC is now commercial available when architects and engineers start designing the structures of the next century.

So when we look into the future, what questions do we need to ask ourselves – do we feel lucky…? or brave enough to embrace the full potentials of concrete:

 

In shape…

HBN shape 1 HBN shape2 HBN shape redigeret3
Double Curved shells                               Surface patterns                                       Organic Shapes

 

In scale…

HBN potentialer 04
An idea for a sculptural chair – with no sharp edges.

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A large urban structure solving a city plan

 

 

In Aesthetics…

HBN Aesthetics 1 HBN Aesthetics 2
Unlimited possibilities in colors, textures and expressions.                                                   Including the Human Factor

 

In structural properties…

HBN potentialer 01 HBN potentialer 02
Large loads in narrow sections                                              Durable, strong, rigid – and optimized

 

In functions and applications…

HBN functions 1 HBN functions 2 HBN functions 3 HBN functions 4
New types of facades              Slender stairs                          Off Shore structures             Infrastructure systems

 

In solving the future challenges of the globe…

HBN challenges 1 HBN Challenges 2 HBN challenges 3
Protecting coastlines                               Making renewable energy                      Protecting important structures

 

Hi-Con CRC i2® in short:

  • Aesthetic potentials like normal concrete
  • Strength almost like steel
  • Better Durability than both steel and normal concrete

 

Hi-Con invites everyone to challenge us and our UHPC – and join us in innovation ventures unlocking the true potential of UHPC to make the world a better and more beautiful place in the centuries to come.

 

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Hans Bruun Nissen
Group Business Development Manager
Hi-Con A/S


4 thoughts on “The Infinite Potentials of Concrete – and UHPC

  1. As stated in the article, “…what questions do we need to ask ourselves – do we feel lucky…? or brave enough to embrace the full potentials of concrete”….”have we unlocked the true potentials?”.

    I would like to raise another question:

    Potentially, UHPC can be used for structural applications as indicated at the end of the article, yet such applications are far from being realized – why? and specifically, why not by Hi-Con?

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