High Performance Concrete in Severe Environments

Many innovations in advanced concrete materials technology have made it possible to produce concrete with exceptional performance characteristics. Recognizing the need to encourage the development of such high performance concrete technology and to expedite its transfer into practice, the ACI Technical Activities Committee formed a Subcommittee on High Performance Concrete (THPC) in 1992. High performance concrete is defined by THPC as concrete which meets special performance and uniformity requirements that cannot always be achieved routinely by using only conventional materials and normal mixing, placing, and curing practices. The requirements may involve enhancements of placement and compaction without segregation, long-term mechanical properties, early-age strength, toughness, volume stability, or service life in severe environments.The Symposium on High Performance Concrete in Severe Environments held at the ACI Fall Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 9, 1993, is the first formal activity organized by THPC. Co-sponsored by RILEM, the symposium emphasizes field applications. This volume contains 14 papers, of which 13 have been scheduled for presentation at the symposium.