Trade Journals for the Concrete Industry

It is satisfying to see direct progress from research to practical implementation of the results of that research – satisfying, but something not always observed. Much research into concrete is concerned with aspects of the hardened properties, and it is sometimes difficult to see the immediate practical significance. In the case of self-compacting concrete (SCC) in Europe, however, we can clearly see the progress from research to implementation. This paper is largely concerned with developments in Europe. From 1997 onwards, the EC funded research on the fresh properties of SCC, whose focus was on the construction process, and whose fundamental objective was to improve the construction industry. The findings were essential to making possible standardisation of this type of concrete. European standards on SCC are now almost ready.