Concrete Technology and Construction for Engineers (5 days)

Overview:

The five-day training course is designed around a core of lectures supported by visual aids, which explain the essentials of concrete technology and construction. Printed notes serve as points of reference for future use. Demonstrations, practical workshops and site visits are programmed to reinforce the theoretical studies and overnight syndicate exercises assist in the development of teamwork. At all times, the opportunity is made for discussion, questions and answers to ensure that the course content has been soundly received

Course Outline:

Day 1

  • Review of concrete materials, composition and properties
    • Cements
    • Pulverized-Fuel Ash
    • Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag
    • Microsilica
    • Aggregates
    • Admixtures
    • Mixing water
     
    • Free water/ cement ratio
    • Transporting concrete on site
    • Introduction to Project 1 - Management of concrete on site
    • Project 1

Day 2

  • Concrete specification: BS 5328, BS EN 206-1, BS 8500, SD1
  • Concrete Classes
    • Types of mix
    • Air-entrainment and freeze / thaw resistance
    • Sulfate resistance
  • Placing and compacting concrete
  • Conformity criteria
  • Characteristic strength
  • Action on non-conformity
  • Briefing for laboratory practical and travel to laboratory
  • Laboratory practical:
    • Concrete mixes
      • Use of admixtures
      • Conformity and identity testing
        • Consistence
        • Air content
        • Making and curing of test cubes
  • Tutorial: Project 1 Reports
  • Introduction to Project 2 - Specification and conformity
  • Project 2

Day 3

  • Briefing for visit, travel to ready-mixed concrete depot
  • Visit to ready-mixed concrete batching plant
    • Order processing
    • Plant, workforce and equipment
    • Materials and mix design
    • Shipping, production and delivery
    • Quality control
  •  
  • Tutorial - Project 2 reports
  • Reinforcement
    • Steel
    • Checking
    • Scheduling
    • Non-ferrous reinforcement
  • Video and discussion: Pre-concreting checks
  • Falsework & formwork
  • Video - Formwork practice
  • Introduction to Project 3, briefing for site visit
  • Project 3: Pre-concreting checks

Day 4

  • Visit to construction site
  • Report-back - Project 3
  • Non-structural cracks
  • Joints
  • The Company approach
  • Introduction to Project 4
  • Project 4 : Diagnosis of cracks

Day 5

  • Curing
  • Project 4 reports
  • Making good and finishing new concrete
  • Video and discussion - Repairs
  • Repairs to old concrete
  • Final discussion and course close.

Intended For:

Engineers with some practical experience of concrete construction. The course targets those involved with civil engineering projects and is also relevant for building engineers and project managers.