New use of recycled windmill rotor blades as aggregate for UHPC concrete

UHPC grouting material is used worldwide in the

in the offshore and onshore industry worldwide for more than 25 years. 

Mostly, UHPC Grout has been used to make transition pieces and foundation systems for wind energy, oil production, tidal power plants and floating windmill platforms. There are also plans to use UHPC concrete as corrosion protection for the systems in these areas. It would be a safe, easy to install, cost effective and durable solution. Another development for the future is the combination of UHPC concrete and recycled rotor blade material. Several thousand used rotor blades from offshore and onshore wind turbines are lying on the ground around the world to be recycled or disposed of. Storage has become a very big problem in some countries. In many industrial
applications we use glassglass fibres, carbon fibres or plastic fibres asaggregates to our UHPC concrete. 

 

In order to carry out reuse, recycling and upcycling as standard in the near future, special UHPC concretes are the ideal combination partner. It should also be possible to add construction material from wind turbines to our UHPC with appropriate processing. This could then possibly be used again as foundation material for new onshore or offshore wind turbine.

UHPC - Grouting material for the Offshore industry

Our UHPC grouting products are a pumpable and developed for offshore application and has been used widely in connection with structural strengthening of offshore platforms.

Such UHPC grouting products have been used offshore in connection with

• Strengthening of intact tubular members
• Reinforcement of joints
• Repair of damaged members
• Pile-sleeve connections
• Strengthening of double skin sections

An example of a spectacular application of such solutions with respect to member repair is for a
member having experienced hydrostatic collapse, where the member was re-inflated and filled with ultra high performance grout. In another case our solutions were applied in connection with a pile-driving refusal (changing the intended shear key connection to a plain pipe connection). UHPC grouting high strength material was used as grout material in stead of the intended conventional grout. In the above selected cases the design strength of the members was re-established due to the extreme effect offered by high strength materials and at the same time the solutions was economically attractive.

One of the main advantages of using grouted solutions in connection with repair is the easy
accommodation of geometrical irregularities. Structural components subjected to some kind of damage (from installation, impact or accident) often show some dents or imperfections. The use of ultra high performance grout in connection with repair improves the performance hereof as the UHPC grout serves not just as a filling material but as a strong structural component.

Our UHPC grouting products are suitable for casting both above and below water. Due to viscous consistency of the mixed materials there is no risk of washing out cement particles or mixing with water when cast below sea level. 

The UHPC grouting products for Offshore have been developed having very low shrinkage so that
the grout and surrounding steel remains in physical contact after curing. Further, these products has been developed to show limited heat development during the hardening process eliminating the risk of thermal cracking.

New construction and repair of Jetties with UHPC concrete

For modern jetty constructions, UHPC concrete

offers many advantages compared to standard

concrete, steel or wooden constructions.

- All jetty elements can be prefabricated or cast
   on site in a short time.
- UHPC concrete has no or only extremely low
   pore volume and is thus absolutely seawater
   and corrosion resistant.
- UHPC concrete hardens under water. It can
   therefore be processed in and under water.
- UHPC concrete has a standard strength
   between 120 MPa/17400 psi and
   250 MPa/36250 psi.
- UHPC prefabricated elements can be made
   considerably thinner due to the very high
   strength and the absence of porosity, and
   thus with significantly less weight.

Due to the properties of UHPC concrete listed
above, such constructions do not require further
inspection. It can be assumed that the service
life is almost 100+ years.

Since UHPC concrete has very good wear and
impact resistance, harsh harbor conditions and
extreme environmental conditions such as ice
are no problem.

Installation

UHPC concrete can be produced by us as mortar,
casting compound or shotcrete mass. For processing,
a compulsory or pan pot mixer is needed. Our
shotcrete and castable UHPC material can also be
pumped over longer distances.

Repairs of damaged standard concrete, steel or 
wooden constructions

Jetties can be severely damaged by impact, corrosion,
rotting or faulty concrete processing. The repair
with UHPC concrete is simple and requires little
effort.

For preparation, remove any loose particles and
buildup such as clams, algae and the like.
A mold should be installed around the columns.
The water does not have to be removed from the mold.
The UHPC concrete is poured directly in the water.
The concrete displaces the seawater from the mold.
The mold can be removed after less than 48 hours.

This type of repair has been used for more than 20
years as a standard repair method on offshore platforms.

Aggregate, fibers and reinforcements for UHPC

Over the course of more than 25 years, we have combined and applied a large number of materials with our UHPC materials. The material combination was used as wear protection material, offshore material, floor material, building material (for buildings, bridges, halls, etc.), safety technology, shipbuilding, tunnel construction, etc.

We would like to show a small selection of aggregates, fibers and reinforcements, which we have used. The aim of our development work in the combination of UHPC with other materials is the possibility to create country-specific materials with UHPC.

For each of these aggregates, fibers and reinforcements, there is a little story why we chose the combination, how we processed it and the results. if you are interested write us and we will send you this collection of little stories.

Further information on the aggregates, fibers and reinforcements


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UHPC/Asphalt system versus concrete for pavement, industrial flooring and roads

What is UHPC Phalt?

UHPC Phalt is a grouted macadam comprising 
an open graded asphalt that is flooded with high 
strength microsilica based mortars. The open 
graded asphalt is mixed to a design mix at a 
local asphalt plant and delivered to site in tipper 
trucks. It is placed via traditional paving techniques.

The UHPC Phalt mortars are delivered in 
1 tonne bags and mixed via a continuous flow 
pump machine. The mortar is mixed for a certain 
amount of time to achieve correct viscosity then 
flooded via a large hose onto the asphalt matrix.

How does the whole construction 
thickness fit together?

UHPC Phalt can be laid at depths of 30 mm / 
1,18 in upwards (typically maximum depth used 
is 40 mm / 1,57 in). UHPC Phalt is the top layer 
of the pavement that is supported by a basecourse 
layer. The basecourse layer can vary dependent 
on environment and loadings, internal or external 
applications. Preferred basecourse materials to 
support the UHPC Phalt topping are high modulus 
macadam basecourse or Foamix recycled binder 
course. CBM bases are ideal for use for large 
internal areas. 
The UHPC Phalt pavement structure (DPH + 
Basecourse) is laid onto varying depths of Type 1 stone/capping dependent on the CBR value of 
the sub-grade. 

Advantages of UHPC  Phalt

• Very high load carrying capacity

• Frost and rew resistant

• Jointless laying

• Quick installation

• High early strength

• Temperature resistant from - 60°C/-76°F - 90°C/194°F

Where is UHPC Phalt used?

• Airports
• Ports
• Lorry marshalling areas
• Service yards
• Acces roads
• Bus stations / depots
• Waste management facilities
• Car parks
• Indoors for warehouse floors
• Anywhere that concrete is conventionally used 
  
  
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Concrete of very high quality cement and desert sand, it works

It is possible to use desert sand as a building sand. Many will cry out and say that will not work. There are so many ancient arguments that are not and of course the international building standards. 

But what can we say, we took a new developed UHPC cement binder into the desert including a few bottles of water and a commercial mixer. We mixed our cement binder with nature desert sand (not cleanded not sieved) and water and after 24 hours we had a strength of 40 MPa and after 28 days more than 70 MPa. We are sorry dear experts and standards. Now we are working on the second generation of desert sand binders, which will become even more effective in terms of technical quaility and flexibility of handling.

Desert sand concrete could be used in many areas such as harbor construction, road construction,

airport construction, architectur and design.

In the construction of the Burji Khalifa approximately 257,500 qqm of sand were used, which corresponds to a weight of 396,000 tons.
This amount of sand could have been taken from the desert and it would have cost - nothing.

Some Arab states are showing great interest in this special UHPC cement binder. It can be very beneficial in helping to rebuild some Arab states or provide new architectural solutions.

If we find the right partners, the UHPC desert sand binders should be producible in every state with desert. Especially in states that have problems with the procurement of river sand but have a desert connection should be the desert sand binder an advantage. The local nature would thus be protected from considerable damage.

See also our UHPC desert concrete presentation

Concrete breakwater as a coastal defense

In recent weeks, I have met people from the Coast Guard in
some European countries. I wanted to learn more about the
current protection of coastal areas, because I think we can
work together with our experience in the application of
UHPC® (Ultra High Performance Concrete) in the offshore
industry to develop some new solutions to make our shores
safer against soil erosion, beach erosion, eroding cliffs and
shoreline erosion.

 

Hard costal protection structures are

• Sea dykes
• Sea walls
• Revetments
• Groynes
• Offshore breakwater

For all these structures, UHPC® can be used, directly casted or sprayed, as precast concrete elements or as a combination with asphalt as UHPC®Phalt.
Many of these solutions come from the experience and applications
of our mining, road construction and offshore operations.

We use UHPC® in port areas, jetty constructions, underwater 
foundations for wind turbines, tide power plants, canal locks,
sheet piling and hydroelectric power plants.

UHPC® is beneficial for these applications because

UHPC® is absolutely seawater resistant, lifetimes of 100
   years are quite possible
UHPC® is already watertight compared to standard concrete
   in low layer thicknesses
UHPC® achieves extreme strength
UHPC® is extremely corrosion resistant
UHPC® is extrem wear resistant
UHPC® can be shaped in any geometry and any natural
   stone surface can be replicated
UHPC® does not require a repair service
UHPC® including reinforcement can withstand enormous
   loads.

What I particularly noticed here are these particularly
ugly breakwaters, that make the whole coastal area safe
but also make the nature of the coast less attractive.
Some of these constructions give me the impression
that coast is protected for the next war.

Dear architects and designers, it must be possible to
develop according to the nature of the coast correspond
to breakwaters and tsunami fuses.
Already for years we supply UHPC® material for
artificial rock landscapes. They are so integrated in
nature that they can hardly be distinguished from the
real rocks.


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UHPC - Use in recycling plants

UHPC Ultra High Performance Concrete
application in recycling plants for

• Synthetic substance - Recycling
• Plastic - Recycling
• Military equipment - Recycling
• Paper - Recycling
• Metal - Recycling
• Precious metal - Recycling
• PCBs - Recycling
• Nuclear - Recycling

The reprocessing of paper, plastic, chemical 
waste, rubber and metals has become an 
extremely important commodity market for 
the producing industry. Much more metal 
raw material is recovered from reprocessing 
than mining.
The material required for reprocessing is 
stored on large exterior and interior surfaces. 
Here, the bearing surfaces are mechanically 
attacked as well as the corrosive liquids 
extremely.
Many existing concrete surfaces show 
considerable damage, which does not 
guarantee the smooth and safe transport 
of the stored goods for reprocessing.
UHPC floor systems are best suited for 
these loads due to their hardness and 
wear resistance. These floor systems are 
laid without joints. Due to the very high 
material density, penetration of corrosive 
liquid with professional installation is 
almost impossible.

UHPC floor and pavementsystems are 
UHPC Phalt and UHPC TopLayer.

UHPC Phalt is a combination of traditional
asphalt with UHPC concrete. The result is a
ground or street blast with the flexibility of asphalt 
and the very high compressive strength and 
wear resistance of UHPC concrete. The 
processing and processing time is extremely 
easy and cost effective.
UHPC TopLayer are floor coverings made of 
UHPC concrete for very high mechanical loads. 
The material thickness is only a fraction of 
standard screeds or concretes.
UHPC TopLayer are extremely corrosion 
resistant and can be installed almost on any 
flooring. UHPC TopLayer achieve compressive 
strengths of far more than 140 MPa


Applications
- Indoor and outdoor pavements in storage areas
- Roads
- Material bunker
- Chutes
- Pneumatic transport systems
- Scrapyard pavement
- Dedusting systems

Benefits for UHPC Wear Protection
- Flexible layer thickness
- Overhead installation possible
- Jointless installation
- Extreme high compressive strength
- Very high wear resistant
- Very good corrosion resistant
- Adapts each of surface geometry
- Fast curing at ambient temperature

Benefits UHPC Phalt and UHPC Top layer
- Extreme high tensile strength
- Extreme high impact resistance and ductility
- The jointless surface prohibits damages on trucks
- Can be applied thin on even the weakest base
- Freeze/thaw resistance
- Fast curing -short stop time
- Cost efficient alternative where a weak base
  requires a change in both wearing course and
  course



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