Concrete: Microstructure, Properties, and Materials

P. Mehta, Paulo Monteiro

Preference :

This book is not intended to be an exhaustive treatise on concrete. Written primarily for the use of students in civil engineering, it covers a wide spectrum of topics in modern concrete technology that should be of considerable interest to practicing engineers. For instance, to reduce the environmental impact of concrete, roles of pozzolanic and cementitious by-products, as well as superplastic-sizing admixtures in producing highly durable products, are thoroughly covered. One of the objectives of this book is to present the art and science of concrete in a simple, clear, and scientific manner. Properties of engineering materials are governed by their microstructure. Therefore, it is highly desirable that structural designers and engineers interested in the properties of concrete become familiar with the microstructure of the material. In spite of the apparent simplicity of the technology of producing concrete, the microstructure of the product is highly complex. Concrete contains a heterogeneous distribution of many solid compounds as well as voids of varying shapes and sizes that may be completely or partially filled with an alkaline solution.