Examination arrangement

Course content

Concrete types and practical application. Selection of concrete mix proporations (mix design), fresh concrete properties. Cement types and their properties, pozzolanic additives, properties of the binder phase. Properties of aggregates and their influence, types and use of admixtures. Curing technology and shrinkage/crack sensitivity. Mechanical properties. Permeability and durability with regard to physical and chemical deterioration, including reinforcement corrosion.

Learning outcome

The course is the basis for the use of concrete, with emphasis on requirements and possibilities within the standard for consultants, concrete producers, contractors and owners. Proportioning of concrete including principles for self-compacting concrete taking into account fresh (rheology, stability) and hardened concrete (strength, durability, economy, sustainable development). This also includes giving the student an understanding of the importance of the constituents (cement, pozzolana/additives, admixtures and aggregates/fines including alkali aggregate reactivity) and composite theory (the Particle Matrix model). Introduction to simple calculations of volumetric relations and pore structure (gel/capillary) in hydration products. The basis for the use of curing technology models (maturity, property development etc) for control and verification of hardening at winter concreting will be learnt. Understanding of mechanisms causing volume change from fresh (plastic settlement, -shrinkage), via early age (temperature, autogenous shrinkage) to hardened concrete (drying shrinkage) is also given. The student shall know the mechanisms for volume change in the different phases (stability, bleeding, temperature change, self-desiccation) as basis to understand cracking problems in fresh/young concrete (choice of constituents and proportions, importance of drying/keeping fresh concrete wet, temperature control etc). Concrete strength; know and understand constituent materials and hydration products importance for strength properties, fracture mechanisms and the strength requirements of the standard for structural concrete. Prediction and control of strength during concrete production therefore is central. Finally transport properties and frost durability issues are treated. Knowledge about the pore structure of hydration products as function of water/binder ratio and degree of hydration is applied in some simple exercises and also the use of standards for production of concrete with specified strength and durability.

Knowledge:
- Understanding of constituent materials for properties of fresh and hardened concrete properties
- Composite models for proportioning (particle/patrix) and transport/durability issues (paste/aggregate)
- Basic understanding of hydration as well as important physical and chemical properties of the hydration products
- Basic curing technology models (maturity, property development)
- Know the different mechanisms causing volume change from fresh (plastic settlement, -shrinkage) via young (temperature, autogeneous shrinkage) to hardened concrete (drying shrinkage)

Skills:
- Proportioning of concrete with desired consistency, strength, volume stability, durability, sustainability etc
- Simple calculations of pore structure in the hydration products and use of composite model and protective pore volume for determination of frost durability
- Production and quality control of concrete (fresh, hardening, hardened (strength, durability classification)
- Practical use of concrete under various production conditions for different purposes

General competence:
- Basis for use of concrete emphasizing requirements and possibilities of the standard
- Use of concrete from basic knowledge of constituent materials and composite

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, 2 laboratory- and 6 theory excercises. If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral. The lectures and exercises are in English when students who do not speak Norwegian take the course. If the teaching is given in English the Examination papers will be given in English only. Students are free to choose Norwegian or English for written assessments.

Compulsory assignments

• Laboratory activities
• Laboratory exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

None.

Course materials

Compendium.

Credit reductions