Due to recent advancements, precast concrete has become more appealing for road construction. Learn how this material is transforming the future of highways.
Though many streets are made from asphalt, this isn’t the only road construction material that should be on your radar. Based on Federal Highway Administration data, less than 2% of American roads (including 20% of roads in the U.S. interstate system) are made out of concrete.
Thanks to a few recent developments, concrete is quickly becoming a more appealing material for roads than ever before.
The Benefits of Concrete Construction
It’s no secret that concrete is a widely used building material, but you might not know just how popular it is. The Global Cement and Concrete Association has stated that the worldwide cement and concrete products market had a value of $440 billion in 2020.
So, what is the secret behind concrete’s continued popularity? Compared to other construction materials, concrete excels in terms of its:
- Cost. The cost of producing concrete is relatively low, and the raw materials used in its creation are widely available in most markets.
- Flexibility. Concrete can be molded into any shape a project calls for.
- Durability and strength. Due to concrete’s high strength durability standards, this is a reliable option for any type of infrastructure construction project.
- Resistance to environmental factors. Concrete is excellent at standing up to the effects of heat and water.
- Environmental impact. Concrete is often locally sourced (cutting down on transportation requirements), and it does not emit toxic gases once it cures.
Understanding Major Innovations in the Future of Concrete Roadways
While concrete has been in use for millennia, it hasn’t stayed exactly the same over the years. Concrete road construction has been transformed by advancements such as:
Smart Concrete
These days, concrete isn’t just a simple construction material. Instead, modern builders can use a number of advanced concrete products known as “smart concrete.”
One relatively common form of smart precast concrete is concrete with embedded IoT sensors. The information from these sensors can help workers maintain a good temperature range and moisture level during the curing process, among other benefits.
Another notable type of smart concrete is self-sensing concrete. This concrete incorporates fillers such as nanotubes and carbon fibers, allowing it to conduct electricity. Because of that, self-sensing concrete can be monitored in real time for potential damage.
Self-Healing Pavement for a Sustainable Road
Unfortunately, even the most advanced concrete roadways don’t last forever. As vehicles drive over these surfaces, they inevitably break down. In fact, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association has stated that roughly a third of all U.S. bridges need repair work.
Fortunately, another type of smart concrete boasts self-healing properties. This concrete utilizes “internal curing agents” capable of absorbing water when concrete cracks. That, in turn, triggers a chemical reaction producing a substance that can fill the crack.
Sustainable Concrete Mixes
Sustainability is a high priority in today’s construction industry, and that mindset certainly applies to concrete. Today’s precast concrete manufacturers focus on environmental factors while creating mixes.
Many concrete precast companies use supplementary cementitious materials like slag, fly ash, and silica fume to lower their cement usage and boost their mix’s overall performance. Other eco-friendly materials include waste byproducts like recycled aggregates and crushed glass.
Modular Construction
These days, modular concrete pavement is growing in popularity. In modular systems, building elements are fabricated off-site before being transported to a construction site. Then, they’re assembled at the site, allowing for more efficient construction, high-quality workmanship, and lower labor costs.
Modular precast concrete construction technology is especially well-suited to large-scale construction projects. In addition to roadways, modular concrete is often used in schools, hospitals, and residential buildings.
3D Printing Solutions
One of the advantages of precast concrete is its high level of versatility, and 3D printing equipment takes this to the next level. By utilizing this technology, concrete manufacturers can create more intricate and complicated designs than ever before.
Of course, this added flexibility isn’t the only benefit of 3D-printed precast concrete. 3D printing can also help companies get their work done faster while reducing the amount of material they waste in the process.
3D printing has already been used for pedestrian and biking bridges, especially in China and Europe. However, some obstacles make it difficult to use this technology for concrete road construction (including the amount of time concrete roadways need to cure). Even so, 3D printing could assist future construction crews with tasks such as repairing potholes.
What Else Can Precast Concrete Products Be Used For?
Roadways and highways are prominent use cases for precast concrete, but this is just one of the many professional applications of this material. Precast concrete techniques are also commonly used in:
- Floors. Precast concrete slabs are a natural fit for flooring. Commercial, residential, and industrial buildings all utilize this durable flooring option.
- Building frames. Precast concrete can be used in both infrastructure and cross-wall frames. The former frame type is regularly used for retail buildings and office facilities, while the latter is often seen in schools, hospitals, and hotels.
- Marine construction. Precast concrete is better at standing up to marine environments than many other materials. Because of that, concrete is often used in floating docks, seawalls, and other waterfront construction projects.
- Fencing. Precast concrete presents a reliable, cost-effective alternative to masonry fence options such as brick or stone. These privacy fences are available in a wide variety of colors and designs, as well.
- Walls. Historically, concrete walls relied on concrete masonry units. Modern concrete walls can utilize precast wall panels instead, allowing for speedy installation and a reliably high level of quality.
Get Precast Concrete Fencing You Can Count On
When you’re in the market for precast concrete fencing or walls, you deserve the best the industry has to offer. But while the top businesses in this industry can deliver the durable, affordable, and weather-resistant concrete you’d expect, that’s not guaranteed to be the case for every concrete company.
The team at American Precast Concrete has been creating exceptional precast concrete products since 1985. If you’d like to take the first step toward installing precast concrete for your commercial, industrial, or residential project, get a free estimate today!