The aim of this study is to characterize the behaviour of concrete under high triaxial loading at levels of confinement and axial stress of the order of the GigaPascal. This study is carried out within a more general scope of understanding concrete behaviour under impact. The studied concrete has properties as close as possible to those used in current construction projects. A triaxial press of high capacity is used to characterize the triaxial behaviour of concrete according to various loading paths. Hydrostatic, triaxial, proportional and oedometric tests are performed and show the influence of the loading path on the compaction process. The triaxial and proportional tests show the existence of strain limit states, defining a limit states threshold independent from the loading path. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.