UKIERI Concrete Congress - Innovations in Concrete Construction

VIEWING HIGH PERFORMANCE CEMENT AND

CONCRETE RESEARCH THROUGH A WIDE ANGLE LENS
Ravindra K Dhir
Emeritus Professor Concrete Technology, University of Dundee, UK
Adjunct Professor, Civil Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Director, Applying Concrete Knowledge, UK
ABSTRACT. Acknowledging that literature on high performance cement and concrete,
though not as we know it today, can be traced to the early 1900s, and the fact that engineers
have always sought to excel in designing infrastructure, puts the growing demand for high
performance concrete in a proper context. To further avoid confusion, but recognising that
there are many aspects of concrete performance that are of interest, the paper concentrates
only on high performance of concrete that used to be initially recognised in terms of its
durability, followed by strength and it now includes workability as well. It is within these
premises that role of cement in providing high performance concrete is viewed.
The paper suggests that both the physical (morphology and fineness in terms of particle size
and distribution) and chemical (composition and nature of constituents) aspects of cement
fractions are responsible for the provision of high performance concrete and that fly ash being
to influence its water demand can be a major factor in driving concrete performance.
Examples are cited, suggesting that of the cement components generally used, for given
fineness, fly ash can significantly lower the water demand of cement and this makes it a
prime candidate for developing high performance concrete in terms of workability, strength
and durability, where its role will also be boosted by its chemical nature. Microsilica fume on
the other hand, by being the finest material would be an excellent candidate for minimising
porosity of concrete and thereby imparting high performance concrete in terms of strength
and durability. Blastfurnace slag derives its effectiveness from it chemical composition, in
particular resistance to sulfate attack and ingress of chlorides. The role of fineness of cement
and addition particles to nano-size is discussed and cost effectiveness evaluated.
A case is argued that given the availability, in vast quantities, physical and chemical nature
and the sustainability benefits that go with fly ash, the construction industry should
concentrate exploiting the use of this material in concrete.
Keywords: Cement, Concrete, Fine materials, Ultrafine materials, Nano-size particles and
High performance.
Professor R K Dhir OBE has specialised in the use of cementitious materials in concrete
since the late 1970s and was the principal investigator for research projects covering a wide
ranging aspects, with total funding of Rs. 70 crores. He is a scholar and practitioner in
concrete technology with research interests covering many areas, including sustainability and
durability of concrete. He is the founding Director of Concrete Technology Unit which he
established in 1988 with Rs 12 lacs. and developed into an Rs 120 Crores internationally
acknowledged multidisciplinary Centre of Excellence having state of the art research
facilities. His approach to research is visionary and creative and by working with industry he
is able to ensure a meaningful dissemination of his research into practice.
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