BASIC RESEARCH AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN CONCRETE

In recent years, government and industry have been placing strong emphasis on high-early-strength and high-performance concrete and on shorter construction times. In response to this challenge, research has been focused on producing changes in the properties of the basic ingredients of concrete, such as cement, and on developing new ingredients to achieve better-quality, higher-strength, and more durable concrete. The challenge to the research community in the new millennium is to promote and develop a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the properties of concrete and of its multiple ingredients. This challenge can be met through a well-planned basic research program and through a program focusing on transferring the knowledge and methods developed through basic research to concrete practitioners for implementation. This paper discusses some specific directions these programs might take.