How to Select UHPC Reinforcement Components in Old Building Renovation: Analysis of Key Factors and Practical Strategies

How to Select UHPC Reinforcement Components for Old Building Renovation: Analysis of Key Factors and Practical Strategies

Amid the wave of urban renewal, old building renovation must both preserve historical character and meet modern safety standards, making the selection of reinforcement materials a core challenge. As an industry leader with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group understands that ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has become the preferred solution for old building reinforcement thanks to its ultra-high strength, durability, and design flexibility. Drawing on engineering practice, this article systematically analyzes the key dimensions of UHPC reinforcement component selection, providing a scientific decision-making framework for designers and owners.

I. Core Technical Indicators for UHPC Reinforcement Component Selection

Old building reinforcement requires balancing structural safety with historical preservation, and the selection of UHPC components must first be anchored on three key technical parameters. In terms of compressive strength, UHPC used for load-bearing structure reinforcement must reach above 150MPa. As specified in the “General Technical Conditions for Non-Load-Bearing Components of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC)”, which Qinglong Group participated in formulating, the flexural strength should be ≥25MPa to meet crack resistance requirements under seismic loads. For interface connections in existing buildings, the elastic modulus of UHPC must match the original structural concrete (typically controlled at 30-45GPa) to avoid stress concentration caused by stiffness differences. In addition, the chloride ion penetration coefficient (≤1×10⁻¹²m/s) and frost resistance (≥F300) are key to ensuring the long-term durability of reinforcement components, which is especially critical in renovation projects in coastal or cold regions.

II. Selection Strategies Oriented by Building Function and Renovation Goals

Different renovation scenarios have significantly different functional requirements for UHPC components. For historical building facade reinforcement that must balance load-bearing and decorative functions, Qinglong UHPC stone-effect cladding panels can be selected; their surfaces can replicate the original stone texture through mold forming technology, while their dead weight is only 1/4 of traditional stone, greatly reducing structural loads. For interior space renovations, such as mezzanine reinforcement in theaters and museums, UHPC lightweight floor slabs are recommended, with thickness controllable at 50-80mm; combined with steel mesh reinforcement, their flexural load-bearing capacity is more than 3 times that of ordinary concrete. For structural strengthening of bridges or industrial plants, external prestressing technology should be combined with UHPC corrugated web components, whose fatigue performance can reach 2 million load cycles without cracking, far exceeding traditional reinforcement materials.

III. Whole Life Cycle Cost and Supply Chain Coordination Considerations

The selection of UHPC reinforcement components must be based on a whole life cycle perspective. Take the renovation of a provincial-level heritage building as an example: Qinglong Group optimized component segmentation design through BIM technology, shortening on-site installation time by 40%, while leveraging the 600,000-square-meter annual capacity of its Guangxi production base to achieve large-scale production, reducing unit costs by 15%-20%. Notably, the later maintenance cost of UHPC is significantly lower than that of traditional materials; its carbonation resistance can extend the structure's maintenance-free period to over 50 years. In terms of supply chain coordination, choosing a supplier with integrated capabilities in detailed design, manufacturing, and construction installation (such as Qinglong Group) can effectively avoid selection deviations caused by disconnection between design and construction, ensuring the optimal balance between reinforcement effectiveness and economy.

IV. Typical Cases and Industry Trend Outlook

From the innovative application of light-transmitting UHPC components in the Century Plaza renovation on Nanjing East Road to the successful practice of the GRC-UHPC composite curtain wall at the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center, Qinglong Group has consistently driven industry development through technological innovation. Currently, UHPC reinforcement components are evolving toward functional integration (such as integrated insulation and sound absorption) and intelligence (embedded RFID chips for quality traceability). In the future, with the deep integration of 3D printing technology and UHPC materials, old building renovation will achieve reinforcement of more complex irregular structures, injecting more possibilities into urban renewal.

UHPC reinforcement selection in old building renovation is both a technical decision and the art of balancing history and the future. As a national-level high-tech enterprise, Qinglong Group has always taken “Creating Beautiful Architecture” as its mission. With 28 years of full-chain experience, it provides expert-level solutions for every renovation project, from material selection to on-site implementation. Choosing the right UHPC reinforcement components allows historical buildings to gain new life under the protection of safety—this is the core essence of sustainable building development.