The Virginia Department of Transportation used Cor-Tuf in bridge installations to ensure they would retain high compressive strength and impact resistance for more than 75 years. Photo: Doug Darling/Cor-Tuf.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has developed a new, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) called Cor-Tuf UHPC, which is made of recycled agricultural byproducts, calcium mineral, and water and is approximately 10 times stronger than traditional concrete, TechLink reports.
The concrete, which was developed at the Corps’ Geotechnical Structures Lab, exceeds the UHPC specification set by the Federal Highway Administration in 2005 and has an estimated lifespan of 75 years.
“It’s a concrete that fits the mold in all aspects,” said Cor-Tuf President Rich Burgess, according to the news agency. “High tensile and flexural strength. It doesn’t become brittle, it doesn’t shrink, and there’s no need to steam it or any special curing. I’m 59 and it’s been a while since I’ve been excited like this.”
After nearly two years of negotiating, the Corps has granted an exclusive patent license to Integrated Composite Construction Systems (ICCS), Cor-Tuf’s parent company, so that it can start selling Cor-Tuf UHPC at competitive prices and with improved performance.
“We can mix our material in the equipment you already have,” said Doug Darling, ICCS’ founder, according to the news agency. “Our customers don’t need special tooling. We’re ready for prime time. We can ship Cor-Tuf to any batch plant in the U.S. It’s been our intention all along to keep prices down, and we’re going to make that happen.”
The video below highlights the production, testing, and installation lifecycle of Cor-Tuf’s UHPC.
