Table Of ContentOther Pergamon Titles of Interest
AZAR, J.J. Matrix Structural Analysis
CHEUNG, Y.K. Finite Strip Method in Structural Analysis
DYM, C.L. Introduction to the Theory of Shells
HENDRY, AW. Elements of Experimental Stress Analysis
HERRMANN, G. & Dynamic Response of Structures
PERRONE, Ν.
HEYMAN, J. Beams and Framed Structures, 2nd Edition
LENCZNER, D. Elements of Loadbearing Brickwork
LENCZNER, D. Movements in Buildings
LIVESLEY, R.K. Matrix Methods of Structural Analysis, 2nd Edition
MARKS, J. et al Aspects of Civil Engineering Contract Procedure
PPAARRKKEESS,, EE..WW.. Braced Frameworks-An Introduction to the Theory
of Structures, 2nd Edition
SACHS, P. Wind Forces in Engineering
SHARP, DR. Concrete in Highway Engineering
STONE, P.A. Building Economy, 2nd Edition
WHITAKER, T. The Design of Piled Foundations, 2nd Edition
Advances in
Ready Mixed Concrete
Technology
Proceedings of the first International Conference on
Ready-Mixed Concrete held at Dundee University,
29th September- 1st October 1975
Edited by
RAVINDRA K. DHIR
Organised by
Civil Engineering Department Dundee University
in collaboration with
Association of Lightweight Aggregate Manufacturers
British Concrete Pumping Association
British Ready Mixed Concrete Association (Scottish Branch)
British Quarrying and Slag Federation
Cement Admixtures Association
Cement and Concrete Association
Concrete Society (Scotland)
Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Scottish Section)
Sand and Gravel Association
P E R G A M ON P R E SS
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Copyright© 1976 R.K.Dhir
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may he
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
any form or by any means: electronic, electrostatic,
magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without permission in writing from the
publishers
First edition 1976
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
International Conference on Ready Mixed Concrete, 1st,
Dundee, Scot., 1975
Advances in ready mixed concrete technology
Includes index
1. Ready-mixed concrete - Congresses I. Dhir, R.K.
II. Title
TP881. 154 1975 666:89 76-15387
ISBN 0-08-020415-5
/;/ order to make this volume available as economically and rapidly as possible
the author's original has been reproduced in typescript form. This method
unfortunately has its typographical limitations but it is hoped that they in no
zcay distract the reader.
Printed in Great Britain by A. Wheaton & Co. Exeter
Foreword
This book is the Proceedings of the first Conference on Ready Mixed
Concrete to be held in the United Kingdom, which took place at Dundee
University from 29 September to 1 October, 1975.
The use of ready mixed concrete by the construction industry in most
industralised countries is now well established; in the U.K. it presently
accounts for about half of all in situ concrete used annually. The Conference
was organised to consider all the major fields associated with the production
and use of ready mixed concrete and its aims were in the main twofold.
Firstly, to examine current practices and recent advances as well as to identify
areas into which further research efforts should be directed. Secondly, to
stimulate discussion between the ready mixed concrete producers, their
customers in the construction industry and their suppliers of concrete
materials, plant and equipment. It was hoped that this would succeed in
fostering wider co-operation between these seemingly diverse disciplines to
their mutual advantage.
Professor James Drever, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Dundee University,
kindly agreed to open the Conference and the opening address was given by
Mr. Kenneth Newman, Director-General, British Ready Mixed Concrete
Association. In setting the scene, Mr. Newman provided a clear and succinct
review of the growth of the ready mixed concrete industry in this country
and the role which it is now ready to take to ensure proper use of its product.
The delegates witnessed excellent presentations of forty papers covering
seven subject areas and the frank and stimulating discussions which followed
throughout the Conference are a tribute to the authors' efforts.
The Conference was planned by the Civil Engineering Department, Dundee
University, in collaboration with a number of trade Associations. The
organisation of the Conference, and an equally imaginative and ambitious
exhibition which took place concurrently, was in the main the responsibility
of the Organising Committee which was guided by the Advisory Committee
of representatives from the Associations collaborating with the staging of
this event. The relatively smooth running of the Conference and Exhibition
is a tribute to their collective efforts and the hard work of the members of
both Committees and the secretarial staff of the Civil Engineering Depart-
ment, Dundee University.
ν
vi Foreword
I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks to all
those who helped to make the Conference such a success, in particular,
Professor Cusens for his invaluable support, John Munday for his active
assistance in the organisation of the Conference and help with the editing of
the Proceedings, Bharti Dhir, who like most wives provided the moral backing,
and Joyce Duncan, Susan Croll, Mary Smith, Bharti Dhir, John Munday,
Sin-soon Choo and Tharmalingham Tharmabala for their help with the final
preparation of the Proceedings.
Although every care has been taken in editing these Proceedings, the editor
apologises for any inaccuracies which he may inadvertently have overlooked.
Dundee R. K. Dhir
April, 1976
Organising Committee
Anthony R. Cusens, Dundee University
Ravindra K. Dhir (Conference Convener), Dundee University
Neil Jackson, Dundee University
John G. L. Munday, Dundee College of Technology
Chander M. Sangha, Portsmouth Polytechnic (formerly Dundee University)
Advisory Committee
Henry Adam, Concrete Society, Scotland
Malcolm Gray, Sand and Gravel Association, Scotland
Denis Hart, Tilling Construction Services Ltd.
Raymond Hop wood, British Ready Mixed Concrete Association
John J. Kollek, Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd.
Donald R. C. MacKenzie, Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, Scotland
Derek W. Moss, Association of Lightweight Aggregate Manufacturers
John Oldfield, British Concrete Pumping Association
David G. Parker, British Ready Mixed Concrete Association
David C. Pike, Sand and Gravel Association
Roger Rixom, Cement Admixtures Association
Graham Skelton-Smith, British Quarrying and Slag Federation, Scotland
Andrew Sutherland, Cement and Concrete Association
vii
Organising Committee
Anthony R. Cusens, Dundee University
Ravindra K. Dhir (Conference Convener), Dundee University
Neil Jackson, Dundee University
John G. L. Munday, Dundee College of Technology
Chander M. Sangha, Portsmouth Polytechnic (formerly Dundee University)
Advisory Committee
Henry Adam, Concrete Society, Scotland
Malcolm Gray, Sand and Gravel Association, Scotland
Denis Hart, Tilling Construction Services Ltd.
Raymond Hop wood, British Ready Mixed Concrete Association
John J. Kollek, Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd.
Donald R. C. MacKenzie, Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, Scotland
Derek W. Moss, Association of Lightweight Aggregate Manufacturers
John Oldfield, British Concrete Pumping Association
David G. Parker, British Ready Mixed Concrete Association
David C. Pike, Sand and Gravel Association
Roger Rixom, Cement Admixtures Association
Graham Skelton-Smith, British Quarrying and Slag Federation, Scotland
Andrew Sutherland, Cement and Concrete Association
vii
OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE
by
J. Drever
Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Dundee University
Ladies and Gentlemen, first of all, welcome to Dundee, we are happy
to have you with us and I am sure your Conference will be a good
one.
It is fitting I think that it should be held here, partly because of the
interest of our Department of Civil Engineering and partly because
Dundee has so often played bridesmaid to her sister city in the North.
It is nice to find her the centre of attraction for once. On the front
page of the publication: Project Scotland, which you will probably
have seen, I see stated that the Conference at which some 40 papers
will be presented is the largest on such a scale to be presented in the
United Kingdom. I assumed of course at first that it was the Beaufort
scale that was referred to but I am told that this is not so and certainly
the monsters (exhibits) dominating our car park suggest that you have
not come here merely to talk. Yours is an important field of work,
increasingly important and especially important in Scotland just now.
If the weather is unkind, as well it may be, remember that every inch
of rain that falls brings nearer the day when the people of Fife once
again will be able to wash their cars. Enough of such trivialities, as I
say you are welcome, I wish you every success and I declare the
Conference open.
xiii
READY MIXED CONCRETE
AND ITS ROLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
K. Newman
Director - General
British Ready Mixed Concrete Association
ABSTRACT This paper outlines the growth of ready mixed concrete in the
United Kingdom and describes the standards the industry has established for
the production, specification, ordering and use of ready mixed concrete which
enables a nation-wide service of high quality concrete to be provided.
INTRODUCTION
This is the first ever national or international Conference entitled Ready
Mixed Concrete to be held in the United Kingdom. Dr. Dhir is to be congratu-
lated for his enterprise and enthusiasm in organising the meeting and bringing
together delegates from many different fields.
More than forty papers are to be presented during the next three days which
should provide those participating with plenty of opportunity for discussion.
BRMCA members should not be too disappointed, however, if their own particular
interests are not fully covered, since fewer than 25% of the papers are
directly concerned with the production and economics of ready mixed concrete.
More than half will be of general interest only, whilst the remaining quarter
have no direct relevance to ready mixed concrete in the United Kingdom.
Nevertheless, in these opening comments, it might be helpful to review the
growth of ready mixed concrete in this country, the steps the industry has
taken to establish and enforce production standards and the role the ready
mixed industry is now ready to take to ensure the proper specification,
ordering and use of its product.
GROWTH OF READY MIXED CONCRETE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
The first ready mixed concrete depot was erected in Britain in 1930. The
growth of the industry before and after the war was slow and in 1950, when the
British Ready Mixed Concrete Association (BRMCA) was formed, there were still
only six depots. The acceptance of ready mixed concrete in the 1950fs was
gradual for, by 1960, there were still fewer than two hundred depots producing
less than four million cubic metres of concrete. The rapid growth period for
the British industry has been in the past fifteen years during which time the
number of depots has increased six-fold and the concrete produced has increased
eight-fold, see Fig. 1. During the same period, the percentage of cement used
by the ready mixed industry has increased from about 10 to 43%.
xv
xvi Κ. Newman
1950 54 58 62 66 70
YEAR
Fig. 1. Production of ready mixed concrete.
Recently British cement makers have published figures covering sales of
cement in five major sectors or channels:
Ready mixed concrete
Site and other uses
Precast concrete
Merchants yards (mainly building mortars)
Asbestos cement.
Table 1 shows the percentages of cement delivered to each of these five sec-
tors for the calendar year 1974. These cement end-use figures confirm those
for other European countries and indicate that 85% is consumed in structural
concrete of all types. Of this, 20% is used in precast products and 65% in
site-placed concrete which can be mixed either on or off the construction site.
The amount of site-placed concrete which is manufactured off-site increases
once the cost of labour becomes high in relation to the cost of materials. In
Britain, two-thirds of site-placed concrete is now ready-mixed.
