Trade Journals for the Concrete Industry

Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is very familiar in the concrete industry. It is a Japanese invention whose development dates back to 1980 in response to a problem. Repairs were frequently required for concrete structures which had started to exhibit defects just 20 years after construction. This premature deterioration of concrete became a business-wide issue in Japan. The cause was traced to defective materials and construction and it provoked ongoing active research into the durability of concrete structures. According to Mr. Okamura - former professor of Tokyo University, the most common defect in concrete products is caused by human error, particularly in concrete compacting. He considered that a fundamental solution was required to prevent this problem, which involved changing the material. Through his research into concrete workability he developed the SCC which is used today.