Analysis of High Strength Concrete in High Rise Building Construction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of high-strength concrete (HSC) in the context of high-rise building construction. It begins with an executive summary, objectives, and a background introduction, highlighting the importance of HSC in managing column sizes and floor layout flexibility. The report details the advantages of HSC, including reduced reinforcement, smaller structural elements, and increased rental space due to thinner elements, alongside benefits like early strength development and improved resistance to aggressive environments. It also addresses the disadvantages, such as the need for precise material selection, specialized curing, and potential stiffness challenges. The report concludes by summarizing the benefits of HSC and its cost implications, emphasizing its role in modern construction practices. References to key research papers and publications are also provided.

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CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date

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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE
CONSTRUCTION IN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive summary.........................................................................................................................2
Objectives........................................................................................................................................2
Specific objectives...........................................................................................................................2
Background/Introduction.................................................................................................................3
Advantages of high strength concrete in high-rise construction.....................................................3
Disadvantages of high strength concrete in high-rise construction.................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5

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Executive summary
The main aim of this study is to analysis the advantages and disadvantages of high strength
concrete construction in high rise buildings. High strength concrete plays a very crucial in
determining the size of support elements used in the construction of a building. There are many
benefits associated with the use of high strength concrete such as; reduction in the amount of
longitudinal reinforcements, reduction in the sizes of structural elements and at the same time
reduction in compression members, focusing on higher strength, better performance
(Richardson, 2016, p. 127).
Objectives
The main aim of this study is to analysis the advantages and disadvantages of high strength
concrete construction in high rise buildings. The study will explore how the high strength
concrete is prepared and the reasons why it is preferred over the normal strength concrete.
Specific objectives
In order to achieve the main objective of the study there is need to set specific objectives which
will guide the study and they will include;
Overview about the high strength concrete
Find out the properties of high strength concrete
Determine the advantages of using high strength concrete in construction
Determine the limitations associated with the use of high strength concrete in construction

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Find out the differences between the normal strength concrete and the high strength concrete and
their applications.
Background/Introduction
It is very important to control the size of columns, in the high-rise concrete buidings.in the
scenarios where normal strength is used , the sizes of columns are usually quite large , and
thus restricting the floor layout flexibility and at the same time consume a lot of rentable
space. Hence, the most important use of concrete with high strength is aimed at minimizing the
size of the columns especially in the lower storey of the high-rise buildings.
One of the essential property which makes it possible to use concrete with high strength in the
construction of high-rise buildings is the low specific creep; the creep strain which occurs
because of unit stress. Increase in concrete strength result in the reduction of the specific creep.
The columns constructed with high strength concrete suffers little total shortening as
compared to the normal strength concrete , this is due to the lower specific creep, which the
high strength columns possess (American Society of Concrete Contractors, 2016, p. 176).
Advantages of high strength concrete in high-rise construction
The main aim behind the development of the high strength concrete was to obtain a structural
material having higher qualities when compared to the normal strength concrete. Hence it has
many advantages, both in cost and performance efficiency, so high strength concrete benefits are
reduction in the amount of longitudinal reinforcements, reduction in the sizes of structural
elements and at the same time reduction in compression members, focusing on higher strength,
better performance, slender columns which leads to larger spans and reduction of the overall
number of column, beams etc.., hence reducing the time required for the concrete formwork
because of the early strength development, long performance under very critical action

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combinations, lower permeability, improved resistance to very aggressive environments,
buckling of the supporting elements, decreased axial shortening , increased rental space
which is as a result of thinner and slenderer elements, also the number of supporting elements
are decreased because the spans are increased (Dhir, 2014, p. 672). Decreased permanent action
of self-weight of the structure, Reduction in repair and maintenance costs, greater stiffness
because of the higher levels of modulus of elasticity with high flexural and compressive
strengths.
Disadvantages of high strength concrete in high-rise construction
Despite the many benefits that are associated with the use of high strength concrete in the
construction of buildings, there are setbacks which are directly associated with it .The setbacks
exist because of presence of impurities or a consequence of some benefits mentioned above. The
limitations associated with the use of high strength concrete in the construction of buildings are
bond between cement paste and the aggregates which does not increase with the same rate as
compressive strength, high-vibration are also required for better compaction and at the same
time to exclude possible segregation , reduced concrete cover for the reinforcements may
hinder the use of maximum advantages in the reduction of the size of the elements. High
strength concrete need careful, precise and very detailed selection of materials and at the same
time, the preparation of high strength concrete does not accept any form of impurities and due to
low water to cement ratio, high-strength concrete require special curing and installation or
placement. There is a likelihood of decrease in stiffness, whereas modulus of elasticity does
respectively increase with the increase in the strength of concrete hence use of high-strength
concrete may offer slenderer elements but with lower stiffness which, may result to stability

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challenges , while the solution for the same may in very precise selection of structural systems
(Nolan, 2016, p. 881).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the use of high strength concrete in the construction of the high-rise buildings has
many advantages .They are high stiffness/unit weight, high strength/unit weight and high
strength/ unit cost. When the strength of concrete increases the unit cost also increase, this is due
to the fact that the higher strength in concrete is achieved by controlling the ratio of water to
cement and making use of smaller amounts of additives (fly ash, silica fumes), super
plasticizers (admixtures) , the main concrete constituent material remains constant. Hence the
cost of high strength concrete increases only slightly and thus, at a relatively lower rate.
References

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American Society of Concrete Contractors, A. C. I., 2016. The Contractor's Guide to Quality
Concrete Construction. American Concrete Institute ed. Chicago: 7th.
Dhir, R. K., 2014. Sustainable Concrete Construction: Proceedings of the International
Conference Held at the University of Dundee, Scotland,. 3rd ed. London: Thomas Telford.
Nolan, K., 2016. Concrete Construction. Texas: Craftsman Book Company2nd.
Richardson, J., 2016. Supervision of Concrete Construction. 62 ed. Texas: CRC Press.