This textbook presents the art and science of concrete in a simple, clear, hands-on manner, focusing on the following: Cement and concrete are predicted to be the premier building material of the 21st Century; Includes unique diagrams, photographs, and summary tables; Updated to include new chapters on non-destructive methods for concrete; future challenges in concrete technology; an increased number of examples of concrete applications; and new developments in durability.

The most comprehensive and current guide to the properties, behavior, and technology of concrete.- This thoroughly updated edition contains new information on: Recently built construction projects worldwide; Shrinkage-reducing admixtures; Self-consolidating concrete, pervious concrete, internal curing, and other cutting-edge innovations; Modeling of ice formation and alkali-aggregate reaction in concrete; Environmental impact of concrete. - Each chapter begins with a preview of the contents and ends with a self-test and a guide for further reading. More than 300 drawings and photographs illustrate the topics discussed in this definitive text on concrete.

Durability of concrete in highway systems is a problem of national concern. In order to better understand the mechanisms which intrinsically control durability in highway concrete, it is necessary to define and understand those factors which impact concrete microstructure which is a consequence of both its formulation and the processes taking place during mixing, placing and curing. This report documents an investigation of those variables which control cement hydration and consequent microstructural development.

In spite of the increasing use and demand for lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC), there is still a lack of adequate explanations to understand the mechanisms responsible for the strength and durability properties of LWAC. This book is written to give an overall picture of LWAC, from the historical background, aggregate production, proportioning and production of concrete, to applications in structures. Physical properties and chemical durability are described in detail. The physical properties include density, strength, shrinkage, and elasticity. Chemical durability includes resistance to acids, chloride ingress, carbonation, and freeze-thaw resistance. Fire resistance is also included, which is seldom considered, but is a very important aspect of the safety of the structure. Microstructure development and its relation to the durability properties of LWAC generally are not highlighted in the literature. The development of bonds, the microstructure with different binder systems, and different types of lightweight aggregates are explained. They show how lightweight aggregate concrete differs from normal weight concrete. The chapters on chloride ingress and freeze-thaw resistance are detailed because of the use of LWAC in offshore construction. The economical aspects of using LWAC are also reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the fact that although the cost of LWAC is high, the total cost of construction has to be considered, including the cost of transport, reinforcement, etc. When these are considered then LWAC becomes cheaper and attractive. The life cycle cost of the concrete is another consideration for calculating long-term savings on maintenance costs.

This accessible text presents a unified approach of treating the microstructure and effective properties of heterogeneous media. Part I deals with the quantitative characterization of the microstructure of heterogeneous via theoretical methods; Part II treats a wide variety of effective properties of heterogeneous materials and how they are linked to the microstructure, accomplished by using rigorous methods.

Presents original work on how nanomaterials are applied to concrete through electromutagenic processes, which modify the microstructure of concrete materials in situ without changing their dimensions or appearance. In essence, this book shows how high-performance concrete can be mixed without expensive additives.

Cement-based materials have been used by humans nearly since the dawn of civilization. The Egyptians used lime and gypsum cement to bind their aggregate materials, mud and straw, resulting in bricks that are used for building their famous Egyptian pyramids (between 3000 and 2500 BC). Hydrated cement is a cement material bonded together with water and used for building construction; it is characterized by acceptable chemical, physical, thermal, mechanical, and structural stability. It plays a main role in the creation of vessels for storage, roads to travel on, weather-resistant structure for protection, inert hard stabilizer for hazardous wastes, and so on. Due to the composition of these materials and their advantages, it has been practiced in different applications. Cement is an essential component of making concrete, the single most prevalent building material used worldwide for construction, skyscrapers, highways, tunnels, bridges, hydraulic dams, and railway ties. Besides their numerous desired properties, there are some undesirable features. To overcome these disadvantages, several studies were established to prepare, improve, and evaluate innovative cement-based materials. Despite its oldness and deep research, every year several methods and materials evolve and so do cement technology. This book intends to provide a comprehensive overview on recent advances in the evaluation of these materials.