Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) formulations must achieve compressive strengths exceeding 150 MPa while maintaining workability and durability. Current formulations often require cement contents above 800 kg/m³, creating both cost and environmental challenges. Research shows that optimizing particle size distributions and incorporating supplementary materials can reduce cement content to below 500 kg/m³ while still achieving the required mechanical properties.

The fundamental challenge lies in balancing matrix density and flowability while reducing cement content without compromising strength development or long-term durability.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including nano-silica enhanced mixtures, red mud cement replacement strategies, sulphoaluminate cement systems, and optimized particle packing approaches. These and other formulation strategies demonstrate how UHPC can achieve exceptional performance while addressing sustainability and cost concerns.

1. Ultra-High Performance Concrete Incorporating Red Mud with Variable Cement Replacement

UNIV QINGDAO TECHNOLOGY, 2025

Early-strength and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with enhanced durability and resistance to environmental degradation. The UHPC combines a significant amount of red mud with other conventional components like silica fume, cement, and steel fibers. The red mud replaces up to 40% of the original cement, achieving improved early strength and rapid setting characteristics. The UHPC maintains excellent mechanical properties and durability despite the high red mud content, while meeting stringent environmental and safety standards for radioactivity and leachability.

US2025051235A1-patent-drawing

2. Composition of Ultra-High Performance Concrete Incorporating Sulphoaluminate Cement, Activated Slag, and Nano Additives

Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, INNER MONGOLIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 2025

Modified slag sulphoaluminate cement-based ultra-high performance concrete with enhanced durability and reduced environmental impact. The composition includes a controlled amount of sulphoaluminate cement, ordinary Portland cement, activated blast furnace slag, anhydrite, quartz sand, nano alumina, rare earth polycarboxylic acid water reducer, and nano SiO2. The addition of a water-reducing agent and nano SiO2 enhances the concrete's mechanical properties while maintaining its hydration characteristics. The modified composition addresses the challenges associated with traditional UHPC production, including high cement content and environmental concerns.

CN119038943B-patent-drawing

3. Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Nano-Silicon Dioxide, Fly Ash, and Microbeads in Controlled Composition and Multi-Step Curing Process

SUZHOU RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CONCRETE AND CEMENT PRODUCTS CO LTD, 2024

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with enhanced mechanical properties achieved through a novel composition and preparation approach. The material combines a high-strength cement matrix with supplementary materials that enhance matrix density, improve crack resistance, and optimize pore structure. The composition includes nano-silicon dioxide, fly ash, and microbeads, which are precisely controlled to achieve optimal performance while minimizing environmental impact. The material is prepared through a multi-step process that includes mixing the nano-silicon dioxide with fine aggregate, combining with cementitious material, and incorporating steel fibers. The curing sequence includes standard, steam, and dry heat curing to achieve the desired mechanical properties.

4. Concrete Composition with Integrated Fly Ash, Mineral Powder, and Silica Fume in Dense Cementitious Matrix

HUBEI GUANGFU CEMENT PRODUCTS CO LTD, 2024

High-performance concrete with enhanced durability and resistance to bending and cracking, achieved through a novel preparation process that integrates fly ash, mineral powder, and silica fume into a dense cementitious matrix. The process involves sequential addition of these components to the cement, aggregate, and water mixture, followed by specific mixing and curing conditions. This approach enables the creation of a concrete with superior mechanical properties and reduced cracking potential, while maintaining excellent workability and processability.

5. Concrete Composition with Specific Water-to-Binder Ratio for Enhanced Workability and Flow

TAISEI CORP, 2023

High-strength concrete with improved workability and flow characteristics. The concrete achieves enhanced workability and flow properties through a novel approach that balances the water-to-binder ratio to optimize the concrete's fluidity and workability. The novel ratio is between 140-180 kg/m³, which enables the concrete to achieve a higher compressive strength while maintaining optimal workability. This approach enables the production of high-strength concrete with improved flow characteristics, enabling more efficient construction processes.

6. Ultra High Performance Concrete Composition Including Fly Ash and Chemical Admixture

Jeong Dong-geun, JUNG DONGGEUN, 2023

Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) with improved physical properties, incorporating fly ash as a cement replacement. The UHPC formulation combines cement, fly ash, silica sand, silica fine powder, a high-performance chemical admixture, and water, achieving enhanced mechanical properties while maintaining homogeneity and fluidity. The fly ash enhances cement hydration and pozzolanic reaction mechanisms, while the chemical admixture ensures optimal processability. This innovative UHPC formulation addresses the challenges of early-age strength, durability, and carbonation resistance in conventional concrete while maintaining economic and environmental benefits.

7. High-Strength Concrete Composition with Mineral Powder Blend and Reduced Cement Content

UNIV LAVAL, 2023

High-strength concrete with reduced cement content that achieves ultra-high compressive strength through optimized mineral powder blend. The concrete contains less than 500 kg/m3 cement, with fine aggregates and mineral powder having diameters below 150 pm. The mineral powder, comprising granite or marble particles with diameters greater than 5% above the cement particle size, is mixed with water and superplasticizer to form a concrete with compressive strength of at least 55 MPa after 28 days. The cement content is maintained below 470 kg/m3 while achieving this exceptional strength.

8. Ultra-High-Strength Concrete Composition with Lightweight Aggregate and Simplified Curing Process

TAIHEIYO CEMENT CORP, 2022

Ultra-high-strength concrete with enhanced mechanical properties achieved through a simplified manufacturing process that eliminates traditional water absorption steps. The cement composition combines a low-heat Portland cement with ultrafine silica fume, inorganic powder, and lightweight aggregate B. The lightweight aggregate, which has a saturated water absorption rate of 15% or more, is added to the cement composition. This combination enables the production of ultra-high-strength concrete with reduced shrinkage strain while maintaining compressive strength. The process involves a normal curing step, a heat curing step, and a high-temperature drying step.

9. Ultra-High Performance Concrete Composition with Specific Machine-Made Sand Particle Size Distribution

广西路桥工程集团有限公司, GUANGXI ROAD AND BRIDGE ENGINEERING GROUP CO LTD, 2022

Machine-made sand ultra-high performance concrete with enhanced compressive strength and improved workability. The concrete combines cement, silica fume, machine-made sand, ground limestone powder, steel fibers, and water-reducing agent in a specific ratio. The machine-made sand is prepared using a unique crushing and screening process that produces a sand with a particle size distribution of 1.18-2.36mm, with no particles smaller than 0.15mm or larger than 0.6mm. This sand has a particle diameter greater than 2.36mm and a weight ratio of 1.18-2.36mm. The resulting concrete exhibits superior compressive strength above 180 MPa, while maintaining excellent workability.

10. Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Cementitious System and Water-Reducing Agent for Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Durability

UNIV CHINA GEOSCIENCES WUHAN, 2022

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for bridge expansion joints that combines enhanced mechanical properties with improved durability. The UHPC formulation incorporates a cementitious material system that enables rapid hardening and early strength, while controlling the hydration reaction to optimize performance. The system achieves exceptional compressive and flexural strengths, with enhanced impact resistance and durability compared to conventional concrete. The UHPC formulation is prepared using a cement compounding system that incorporates a water-reducing agent to minimize water consumption while maintaining optimal hydration properties. The resulting material offers superior performance characteristics for bridge expansion joints, particularly under high-impact conditions.

11. Concrete Composition Incorporating Lithium Silicate from Waste Ceramics

CHANGCHUN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 2021

Low-shrinkage, low-viscosity, ultra-high-strength concrete with improved workability. The concrete comprises a composite aqueous solution of lithium silicate and sodium silicate, wherein the lithium silicate is obtained from waste ceramics. The solution is prepared by grinding waste ceramics into a fine powder and mixing it with water to form a homogeneous solution. This solution provides excellent workability characteristics, including good slump and pumpability, while maintaining the high strength and durability of ultra-high-strength concrete.

12. Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Magnesium Composite Expansive Agent and Ultrafine Additives

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY SINGAPORE, 2021

A low-heat and low-shrinkage ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) that achieves enhanced mechanical properties and durability through innovative composition and processing. The UHPC formulation combines a high cement content with specialized additives, including a magnesium composite expansive agent, silica fume, and ultrafine quartz particles. This composition enables the material to exhibit superior mechanical performance while minimizing thermal expansion and shrinkage. The formulation is optimized through advanced mix design and testing, resulting in a concrete with reduced hydration heat and shrinkage compared to conventional UHPC.

13. Concrete Preparation Method with Polysodic Acid-Based Water-Reducing Agents and Composite Additives

SHUI XIAO, 2021

High-strength concrete preparation method that enhances compressive strength through the addition of environmentally friendly polysodic acid-based water-reducing agents. The method incorporates cement, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, fly ash, silica fume, superfine slag, engineering fibers, calcium chloride/sodium nitrite compound agents, water-reducing agents, and water to achieve significantly improved compressive strength.

CN112551972A-patent-drawing

14. Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Normal Temperature and Pressure Curing Technique

SOUTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 华南理工大学, 2020

Normal temperature and pressure curing ultra-high performance concrete and a preparation method for achieving this type of concrete. The method enables the production of ultra-high performance concrete through a controlled curing process that combines normal temperature and pressure curing techniques. The concrete achieves high strength and durability characteristics while maintaining practical engineering requirements.

CN108285311B-patent-drawing

15. Composite Cementitious Material System with Sodium Sulfate Activator and Mineral Admixtures for Ultra-High Performance Concrete

SUCGM LTD, 2020

A composite cementitious material system for ultra-high performance concrete that enables the production of green concrete while maintaining its exceptional mechanical properties. The system combines cement, active mineral admixtures, and a sodium sulfate-based chemical activator in a molar ratio of 0.8-0.91:1. This composition enables the replacement of traditional cement with mineral admixtures while maintaining the material's high performance characteristics, including compressive strength, toughness, and durability. The sodium sulfate activator provides superior workability compared to conventional activators, making it an ideal choice for green concrete production.

16. Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Ultra-Fine Steel Fiber Reinforced Matrix and Controlled Fiber Distribution

SHANGHAI LOUCHENG CONCRETE CO LTD, 2020

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with enhanced mechanical properties, particularly in high-temperature environments, achieved through a novel reinforcement approach. The UHPC formulation combines ultra-fine steel fibers with a specially optimized reinforcement matrix, allowing superior compressive, tensile, and flexural performance compared to conventional UHPC. The reinforcement matrix is created through a controlled fiber distribution process that ensures optimal fiber-matrix interaction and mechanical bonding. This matrix-based reinforcement system enables improved mechanical properties and durability in challenging environments.

CN111393100A-patent-drawing

17. Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Ultra-Fine Silica Fume and Optimized Cement-Binder Ratio

TIANJIN CEMENT IND DESIGN & RES INST CO LTD, 2020

Low-shrinkage ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with improved durability through reduced early shrinkage. The UHPC formulation combines a high-performance cement with an ultra-fine silica fume admixture, which significantly reduces the conventional shrinkage of UHPC while maintaining its high strength and durability. The preparation method involves optimizing the cement-binder ratio and incorporating specialized additives that enhance the concrete's early strength and resistance to cracking, while maintaining its long-term performance.

18. Concrete Matrix with Controlled Fiber Reinforcement Integration for Enhanced Mechanical Properties

ZHANJIANG ZHENGXIN TECH SERVICE CO LTD, 2019

High-performance concrete for structural applications that combines enhanced mechanical properties with improved durability. The method involves the controlled incorporation of advanced reinforcement materials, such as high-strength steel fibers or ultra-high-performance fibers, into a conventional concrete matrix. The reinforcement is added through a series of controlled additions, allowing for precise control over fiber distribution and orientation. This approach enables the creation of high-performance concrete with superior mechanical properties, including enhanced toughness and resistance to chloride ion penetration, while maintaining optimal workability and flow characteristics.

CN109956710A-patent-drawing

19. Method for Preparing Concrete with Specific Ratios of Cement, Slag, Fly Ash, and Silica Fume

WUHAN MINGHUA HONGCHANG NEW BUILDING MAT CO LTD, 2019

A method for preparing high-performance concrete using silica fume that addresses conventional issues of high-strength concrete. The method combines cement, slag powder, fly ash, and silica fume in specific ratios to produce a concrete with improved workability, reduced segregation, and enhanced pumping characteristics. The concrete composition includes 300-330 parts of cement, 100-115 parts of slag powder, 40-45 parts of fly ash, 20-35 parts of silica fume, 643-683 parts of sand, 1063-1103 parts of crushed stone, 8.4-10.6 parts of water-reducing agent, and 155-168 parts of water. The precise formulation enables the production of high-performance concrete with enhanced workability and reduced pumping resistance.

20. Ultra-High Performance Concrete Formulation with Steel Fibers and Silica Fume for Hollow Component Construction

GUANGDONG REMAC EQUIPMENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2019

Ultra-high performance concrete with enhanced mechanical properties for hollow components. The concrete formulation includes cement, silica fume, coarse and fine sands, steel fibers, water, and admixtures. The cement content ranges from 30% to 45%, while the silica fume content is between 5% and 15%. The coarse and fine sands contribute to the structural integrity, while steel fibers provide added strength. The water content is between 6% and 15%. The admixture level is between 0.2% and 1%. This formulation enables the production of hollow components with improved mechanical properties compared to conventional ultra-high performance concrete, particularly for applications requiring enhanced aesthetic and structural performance.

21. Concrete Composition with Fiber Reinforcement and Optimized Aggregate for High Compressive Strength and Toughness

TONGJI UNIVERSITY, Tongji University, 2019

High-strength ultra-high toughness concrete with improved durability and enhanced mechanical properties, comprising a cement-based system with optimized aggregate composition and fiber reinforcement. The concrete achieves exceptional compressive strength (up to 800 MPa), high toughness, and excellent durability, while maintaining a compressive modulus comparable to conventional high-strength concrete. The reinforced structure features a uniform cement-based system with reduced coarse aggregate content and enhanced fiber reinforcement, enabling the production of ultra-high performance concrete with superior mechanical properties compared to conventional materials.

22. Concrete Composition with Gelling Agent and Water-Reducing Additive for Reduced Cement Dosage and Enhanced Flow

XINGTAI JIANGONG COMMERCIAL CONCRETE CO LTD, 2018

High-performance concrete with reduced cement dosage and improved pumping characteristics. The concrete contains a gelling agent, water, sand, and aggregate with a specific cement content, and a water-reducing additive. The cement is a high-strength, low-alkaline cement with a specific grade. The gelling agent enhances the concrete's workability and flow characteristics, while the water-reducing additive minimizes water consumption. The cement content is optimized to achieve the desired strength and flow properties while maintaining a low cement dosage.

23. Ultra-High Performance Concrete Composition with Ultra-Fine Silica Fume and Specialized Reinforcement Materials

UNIV ZHENGZHOU, 2018

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with enhanced durability and resistance to environmental stressors. The UHPC achieves superior performance through a novel composition that incorporates ultra-fine silica fume, high-temperature curing, and specialized reinforcement materials. The formulation balances the required strength, durability, and workability while minimizing the amount of conventional cement and traditional reinforcement. The UHPC exhibits improved resistance to chloride penetration, thermal shock, and chemical attack, making it suitable for high-performance applications in extreme environments.

24. Concrete Composition with Microcapsule-Embedded Self-Repairing Polymerization System

SUZHOU RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CONCRETE AND CEMENT PRODUCTS CO LTD, 2018

Ultra-high-strength and high-performance concrete with enhanced self-repair capabilities through microcapsule-based polymerization. The concrete composition comprises ultra-high-strength cement, microcapsules containing epoxy resin and urea formaldehyde, and a curing agent. The microcapsules form through in-situ polymerization in the cement matrix, enabling rapid self-repair of cracks while maintaining the concrete's high strength and durability.

25. Concrete Composition with Low Water-Cement Ratio and Enhanced Fly Ash Integration

JINAN UNIVERSITY, 2017

High-strength concrete with low water-cement ratio and high fly ash content, enabling sustainable construction practices. The concrete achieves superior strength through optimized fly ash incorporation while maintaining a reduced water-cement ratio compared to conventional concrete formulations. This innovative combination addresses the environmental and economic challenges associated with cement production while maintaining the necessary workability and durability for construction applications.

26. Method for Preparing Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Controlled Water Content for Thermal Resistance

Beijing Jiaotong University, BEIJING JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY, 2017

A method for preparing ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) that enhances its thermal resistance and fire safety through controlled water content management. The method involves a unique curing process that systematically controls the amount of free water in the concrete mix to a specific "decompression" threshold. This controlled water content approach prevents excessive water vapor pressure, which is a primary factor contributing to thermal runaway in UHPC. The controlled water content enables the development of UHPC with improved thermal resistance and enhanced fire safety characteristics.

CN105693166B-patent-drawing

27. Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Advanced Dispersant and Viscosity Management Techniques

江苏苏博特新材料股份有限公司, SUBOTE NEW MATERIALS CO LTD, 2017

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with compressive strength of 300MPa or more, achieved through a preparation method that combines advanced dispersant technology, viscosity management, and specific additive strategies. The method enables significant improvement in concrete strength, density, and durability by addressing common challenges in UHPC production, such as particle agglomeration, voids, and fiber dispersion. The preparation process involves the use of dispersant agents to enhance nanoparticle dispersion, viscosity management through additives, and specific mineral solutions to improve mechanical properties.

28. Ultra-High Performance Concrete Composition with Specific Admixture Ratios and Expanding Agent

CCCC SECOND HARBOR ENGINEERING COMPANY LTD, 2017

Ultra-high performance concrete with enhanced mechanical properties for bridge construction, particularly in wet joint applications. The concrete combines cement, mineral admixture, and expanding agent in specific ratios to achieve improved tensile strength and resistance to shrinkage. The formulation incorporates a viscosity reduction agent to prevent premature concrete shrinkage, while the expanding agent plays a role in preventing joint cracking. The concrete's unique composition enables rapid setting, enhanced durability, and improved performance in wet joint applications compared to conventional ultra-high performance concrete.

29. Concrete Composition with Ultrafine Silica-Free Aggregates and Water-Reducing Superplasticizer

LAFARGE, 2017

Concrete with improved compressive strength and reduced setting time, achieved through the use of ultrafine silica-free aggregates. The composition comprises Portland cement, ultrafine silica-free aggregates (less than 1 pm), a water-reducing superplasticizer, and optional calcined limestone or dolomite. The ultrafine aggregates have a BET surface area of 2-10 m2/g and a mean particle size of less than 15 pm, enabling enhanced cement hydration and mechanical properties without the need for traditional silica fume. The resulting concrete exhibits superior compressive strength at 28 days, comparable to traditional silica-fume-based concretes, while maintaining a shorter setting time.

CA2675945C-patent-drawing

30. Ultra High Performance Concrete with Rheological-Modified Cement System and Additives for Viscosity and Shrinkage Control

SUBOTE NEW MATERIALS CO., LTD., Jiangsu Sobute New Materials Co., Ltd., 2016

A full-diameter ultra high performance concrete composition that achieves exceptional mechanical properties, durability, and workability through a novel rheological-modified cement system. The composition combines cement with additives that control viscosity and shrinkage behavior, enabling the production of concrete with improved flowability, workability, and durability characteristics.

31. Concrete Matrix with Integrated Advanced Fiber Reinforcement System

广东冠生土木工程技术有限公司, GUANGDONG GUANSHENG CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2016

Preparing ultra-high toughness concrete through the incorporation of advanced fiber reinforcement systems. The method involves combining conventional fiber reinforcement with specialized fibers that enhance mechanical properties while maintaining high toughness. The fibers are strategically integrated into the concrete matrix to achieve optimal performance in both strength and durability. This approach enables the production of concrete with superior resistance to cracking and failure under extreme environmental conditions, particularly in high-performance construction applications such as high-speed rail tunnels and large-span bridges.

32. Ultra-High-Strength Concrete with Modified Aggregate Composition and Processing Conditions

KOREA INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING TECHNOLOGY, 한국건설기술연구원, 2016

Ultra-high-strength concrete with improved workability achieved through a novel approach that optimizes aggregate composition and processing conditions. The method focuses on reducing the fine aggregate content and improving the 0.08 mm sieve passing percentage, enabling lower cement-to-binder ratios while maintaining sufficient strength. This approach enables the use of conventional cement and aggregate ratios while achieving higher workability through enhanced binder performance.

KR101591275B1-patent-drawing

33. Concrete Admixture Comprising Cement Clinker, Silica Fume, Ultrafine Ash, and Ground Slag Powder with Additives

CHONGQING CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING NEW BUILDING MATERIALS CO LTD, 2015

A high-strength concrete admixture that combines cement, silica fume, and ultrafine ash to enhance concrete properties while simplifying preparation. The admixture formulation consists of cement clinker, silica fume, ground sulfur ash, ultrafine ash, plasticizer, strength activator, and ground slag powder. The composition ranges from 1% to 3% cement clinker, with silica fume and ultrafine ash content between 20% and 30%, strength activator between 1% and 2%, and ground slag powder between 200kg and 370kg. The addition of additives, such as triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, and xanthan gum, enhances the system's performance.

34. Concrete Composition with C85 Aggregate and Cementitious Materials for Enhanced Thermal and Impact Resistance

SINOHYDRO BUREAU 7 CO LTD, 2015

High-strength concrete with enhanced durability in extreme environments, particularly for flood discharge tunnel applications. The invention comprises a high-strength concrete gel composition and a high-strength concrete with improved thermal resistance. The gel composition contains a combination of c85 high-strength aggregate and specialized cementitious materials that enhance thermal resistance in high-temperature drying environments. The resulting high-strength concrete exhibits superior impact resistance and durability compared to conventional c85 concrete.

CN104743995A-patent-drawing

35. Cement-Based Material Incorporating Thin Metal Wire Cermet Fibers

ЩЕПОЧКИНА ЮЛИЯ АЛЕКСЕЕВНА, SHCHEPOCHKINA JULIJA ALEKSEEVNA, 2015

A novel approach to improving concrete performance through the use of cermet fibers in cement-based materials. The cermet material consists of thin metal wire fibers with diameters below 70 microns and lengths of up to 10 mm. These fibers, when incorporated into cement, can significantly enhance concrete properties while maintaining its structural integrity. The cermet fibers can improve mechanical strength, durability, and thermal resistance, while also reducing the density of the cement matrix. This innovative combination of cermet and cement enables the production of high-performance concrete with improved mechanical properties.

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