ABSTRACT
Radical Concrete Technology. Edited by R K Dhir and P C Hewlett. Published in 1996 by E & FN Spon, 2-6 Boundary Row, London SE1 8HN, UK. ISBN 0 419 21480 1. ABSTRACT. The deterioration of concrete has caused concern for as long as concrete has been in use as a construction material. A review of literature shows that permeability is the governing factor of concrete durability. Virtually all current knowledge of concrete permeability has been obtained on unstressed and therefore uncracked laboratory specimens (together with some limited site data on structures of undefined stress history). This is in complete contrast with the concrete of real structural elements which contain microcracks caused not only by structural stresses but also by other environmental conditions. Testing of stressed samples show the importance of microcrack development and the influence that this parameter has over permeability.
