How U.S. DOT-Sponsored University Transportation Center Is Reinventing Bridge Repairs with UHPC

Innovative Bridge Technologies/Accelerated Bridge Construction-University Transportation Center (IBT/ABC-UTC) at Florida International University (FIU) has developed a game-changing pneumatic spray technology. This innovative technology offers an economical solution for retrofitting/ upgrading deficient bridges and/or their elements at a fraction of the cost of replacing them—while minimizing traffic disruptions and helping people maintain their daily routines. Additionally, the finished product can be stronger and more durable than the original structure. IBT/ABC-UTC  successfully deployed this exciting technology for the first time in the United States in August 2024, on a bridge near Washington D.C.  (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edcnews/20250206.cfm).

This technology involves using an advanced material called Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) in spray form. UHPC is a dense, durable material made from Portland cement, silica fume, fine sand, steel fibers, and a low water content. Its unique composition gives it four to six times the strength of conventional concrete, along with superior resistance to cracking under tension forces, moisture, and extreme conditions—making it ideal for long-lasting infrastructure repairs. Pneumatically Sprayed UHPC can strengthen deficient bridge elements and prevent further corrosion.