Performance Evaluation and Technical Limitation Analysis of UHPC Strengthening Technology for Typical Building and Bridge Structural Components

Abstract

Fatigue, chloride erosion and seismic loading act together over time to damage reinforced concrete structures gradually; thus, effective retrofits are required. Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) has good properties such as high strength, strain-hardening toughness, low permeability and excellent compatibility with normal concrete, so it is suitable for this purpose. Based on the above, this paper presents a data-driven comparison of recent experimental and numerical studies on UHPC retrofitting for beams, columns, frames, masonry-infilled frames, corroded piers and box-girder bridges. Systematically evaluate the above indicators of strengthening efficiency, failure modes, parameter sensitivities and engineering applicability. Based on the above analysis, UHPC-based composite systems have shown better performance than traditional single-retrofit methods in terms of increased bearing capacity, seismic energy dissipation and fatigue resistance. However, some serious problems still exist, such as prominent parameter threshold effects, inherent joint defects in prefabricated systems, severe on-site construction constraints, and a significant lack of multi-factor coupled experimental verification. The above results provide experimental references and design ideas for optimisation and standardisation of UHPC retrofitting in infrastructure rehabilitation.