NEW COLLABORATION WITH THE NORWEGIAN MILITARY ACADEMY

We are proud to announce our collaboration with Krigsskolen/FHS (the Norwegian Military Academy). The project focuses on enhancing the performance of existing UHPC systems through advanced reinforcement technologies and represents an important step in building new competence within advanced construction materials.

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 we’re 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 our graphene-based additive 2Dx^® CO-NXT, UHPC becomes more damage-tolerant and better able to dissipate energy under extreme loads.

Bulletproof concrete

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.

Dual-use construction materials

An important aspect of this collaboration is the development of dual-use construction materials, meaning materials that are valuable in both civil and defence 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.

The collaboration with Krigsskolen/FHS provides an opportunity to build a unique competence platform within nano-reinforced and dual-use construction materials. We look forward to continuing the collaboration and exploring the full potential of nano-reinforced UHPC!