2D Fab has announced a collaboration with Krigsskolen/FHS (the Norwegian Military Academy) on a project focused on enhancing the performance of existing ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) systems through advanced reinforcement technologies.
Image credit: 2D Fab
Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) was originally developed in France in the 1990s and is known for its exceptional strength and durability. It is typically reinforced with steel fibers, making it suitable for demanding civil infrastructure projects. Together with the Norwegian Military Academy, 2D Fab will be exploring how graphene and advanced microfibers can further strengthen steel-fiber reinforced UHPC, improving strength, crack control and energy absorption.
Conventional concrete is strong but brittle, meaning it can crack or fragment under bending or impact. By combining advanced mix design and steel fiber reinforcement with 2D Fab's graphene-based additive 2Dx® CO-NXT, UHPC could become more damage-tolerant and better able to dissipate energy under extreme loads.
As part of the initial testing phase, UHPC plates were cast using steel-fiber reinforced concrete with additional graphene and microfibers. After curing, the plates were shipped to the Norwegian Military Academy for impact evaluation. The tests involved firing rifle rounds at the plates.
“The enhanced plates remained intact with minimal cracking, while the conventional plates showed visible damage. Even in plates that are only 8 cm thick, the material maintains its integrity under rifle fire, which is very promising”, says Jan Nordin, 2D fab.
These early results indicate that adding graphene and microfibers can enhance impact performance and reduce the risk of dangerous fragmentation, while laying the foundation for further development.
An important aspect of this collaboration is the development of dual-use construction materials, meaning materials that are valuable in both civil and defense applications. Modern structures such as high-rise buildings, bridges, marine structures, and transportation infrastructure are often exposed to dynamic loads and require materials that can tolerate movement and stress without developing critical damage. The same properties are also important in protective structures, where materials must withstand extreme loading conditions such as impacts or blast waves while minimizing fragmentation.
