Background
Concrete has an extensive role to play both in the construction and improvement of civil engineering infrastructure. It is an extremely versatile material that is used on virtually every engineering project due to its great strength, durability and versatility.
As an everyday construction material it seems so simple - and yet concrete must be fit for a wide range of uses. Only if correct properties are achieved can successful concrete projects be realised.
Overview
This one-day course introduces delegates to the materials and properties of concrete, providing a basic understanding of important requirements for its production and use.
An overview of the material properties, performance, classification and design of concrete sets the scene for the course. The constituents are discussed in detail, including:
- Cement products
- Mixers
- Admixtures
- Aggregates
Key topics include:
- The performance of both fresh and hardened concrete is discussed in detail
- The fresh properties enable the concrete to be mixed, transported, placed and compacted to meet its end use requirements
- The hardened concrete needs to match design requirements that can include the specification of any number of criteria including: strength, permeability, durability, fire resistance and finish
- The practical use and control of concrete is introduced
These sessions will focus on the production, transport, testing and quality control of concrete to ensure it meets the required performance requirements.