Evolving Concrete 2017

Now in its third year, Evolving Concrete 2017 recently welcomed more than 120 delegates to the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre in Reading, Berkshire, to enjoy a full day of technical and educational presentations, which embraced this year's theme of 'Forming our future'. Many delegates also attended an evening dinner, which was rounded-off perfectly with a speech from boardcaster and historian on architecture, Tom Dyckhoff.

 

 

Opening keynote address: Forming our future - is our industry equipped for the challenge?
Chris Dulake - Mott MacDonald
In a changing market that is rapidly moving towards collaborative relationships and behaviors, innovation and digitisation and off site fabrication, is the industry ready to step up to delivering the efficiencies needed by clients and government and taking the next step in improving site safety’

Hinkley Point C - Journey to nuclear concrete
Peter Abel - Bylor, a Bouygues TP/Laing O’Rourke JV
For the last 4 years BYLOR has developed an exemplar nuclear quality safety culture in all aspects of constituent manufacture to meet the concrete durability demands of the Hinkley C project. This level of consistency has not been seen in the UK for decades. Casting the early foundations has entailed the translation of these needs to the realities of site batching plants and the routine production on a mass volume basis of fully certified nuclear quality concrete.

Validation of pile-supported slabs design guidelines by experimental large-scale tests
Hendrik Thooft - Bekaert
Steel fibres have been marketed for over 45 years. Initial applications were for ground-supported floors with sawn joints. With experience joint spacing increased from the 6x6m to more than 40x40m. Increased understanding over the past 15 years has enabled pile-supported floors with design guidelines being published e.g. TR34 4th edition. However, large scale tests supporting the design guidelines were limited.

The presentation tackles two major topics; the basic methodology of a pile-supported steel fibre floor design and a summary of large scale tests undertaken by Tong Ji, University of Shanghai. Insights into the failure mechanisms and results from the numerical analysis highlight the real safety factors enabling the optimization of a safe structural design.

Designing steel-fibre reinforced tunnel linings
Sotiris Psomas - UnPS (Morgan Sindall Group)
Steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) for tunnel linings was first used 23 years ago in the UK. Current design practice assumes fibres improve early-age drying shrinkage-induced crack control and provide ductility. However, the contribution of the fibres to tensile strength is either ignored or deemed low. The lack of a National Standard further limits this technology. This presentation explains UnPS design methodology based on BS EN 1990 ‘design-assisted by testing’, enabling efficient limit state design and (in some cases) crack control verification.

Developments in Precast Concrete Solutions for Modern Living
Terry Rosbotham - Creagh Concrete Products
A look at modern precast residential construction methods in high rise and low-rise housing. The presentation considers the current construction methods and how this type of construction is viable. Can it achieve the expectations of the modern residential occupier?

Brexit: MPA economic and market outlook 15 months after the historic vote
Aurelie Delannoy - Mineral Products Association
15 months after the BREXIT vote to leave the EU, the MPA continue to assess the mineral products market. Aurelie will summarize the impact on the UK macro-economy, with reference to aggregates and ready-mixed concrete.

Evolution of visual and durable concrete;
Use of controlled permeability formwork on the V&A Museum of Design in Dundee

Trevor Larkin - Max Frank
Due to its proximity to the Firth of Tay, the new and iconic V&A Museum is susceptible to chloride attack from sea salts as well as exposure to arduous wind, rain and freeze-thaw conditions. This presentation examines the measures which have been taken, through the use of controlled permeability formwork liner, to prevent such concrete deterioration to the structure and, at the same time, producing a dark, textured and aesthetically pleasing concrete finish.

Looking forward: Architect’s perspective
Chris Loyn - Loyn + Co Architects
Creating a quality environment through innovative design and architecture is explored with unique incite from the founder of the highly regarded practice Loyn + Co Architects. Some noted examples of his teams work include residential projects Outhouse and Stormy castle both recent Concrete Society Awards winners.

Development of a new admixture to enable consistent concrete quality when using marginal clay-containing sands
Dr Nina Susanne Hillesheim - BASF
Not the snappiest of titles, but an important sustainability topic. As the availability of natural sand becomes regionally scarce alternative materials such as sand from crushed aggregates, dredged materials, recycled concrete and exploitation of less appropriate sources have become more prevalent. One limiting factor is the presence of swelling clay which affects water demand and production of consistent concrete quality. Mastersuna SBS admixture enables these marginal materials to be used effectively.

Ternary cements, specification and characteristics
Dr Colum McCague - MPA Cement<
The presentation provides an overview and current state of the art of ternary cements (three component composites) giving particular focus on ternary cements containing limestone. This is step for the future of cement specification and understanding of its properties.