Concreting: why code compliance alone doesn’t ensure buildability, durability or assurance

Overview

Structural concrete design is commonly regarded as satisfactory provided it complies with codes of practice. However, this presentation argues that such compliance is a necessary but insufficient condition for acceptable concrete performance. 

In practice, realised performance depends on whether the concrete can be manufactured, transported, placed, compacted and cured in a manner consistent with design assumptions. 

This presentation examines concrete design from a practical perspective, drawing together codes and standards, practice guidance, empirical studies on rheology, segregation, vibration and cold joints, and the presenters’ findings from more than three years of technical assurance, field investigation and precast manufacturing research across major infrastructure delivery.