This is the state-of-the-art report prepared by the RILEM TC "Application of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) in concrete construction". It gives a comprehensive overview of the properties of SAP, specific water absorption and desorption behaviour of SAP in fresh and hardening concrete, effects of the SAP addition on rheological properties of fresh concrete, changes of cement paste microstructure and mechanical properties of concrete. Furthermore, the key advantages of using SAP are described in detail: the ability of this material to act as an internal curing agent to mitigate autogenous shrinkage of high-performance concrete, the possibility to use SAP as an alternative to air-entrainment agents in order to increase the frost resistance of concrete, and finally, the benefit of steering the rheology of fresh cement-based materials. The final chapter describes the first existing and numerous prospective applications for this new concrete additive.

This is the state-of-the-art report prepared by the RILEM TC "Application of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) in concrete construction". It gives a comprehensive overview of the properties of SAP, specific water absorption and desorption behaviour of SAP in fresh and hardening concrete, effects of the SAP addition on rheological properties of fresh concrete, changes of cement paste microstructure and mechanical properties of concrete. Furthermore, the key advantages of using SAP are described in detail: the ability of this material to act as an internal curing agent to mitigate autogenous shrinkage of high-performance concrete, the possibility to use SAP as an alternative to air-entrainment agents in order to increase the frost resistance of concrete, and finally, the benefit of steering the rheology of fresh cement-based materials. The final chapter describes the first existing and numerous prospective applications for this new concrete additive.

Many concrete structures and elements of concrete infrastructure have exceeded their original design lives and are deteriorating to an extent where they are becoming dangerous. The deterioration can be internal or not obvious and therefore only shows up with detailed testing. Non-destructive evaluation of reinforced concrete structures, Volume 1: Deterioration processes and standard test methods reviews the processes of deterioration and classical and standard test methods. Part one discusses deterioration of reinforced concrete and testing problems with chapters on topics such as key issues in the non-destructive testing of concrete structures, when to use non-destructive testing of reinforced concrete structures, deterioration processes in reinforced concrete, modelling ageing and corrosion processes in reinforced concrete structures, components in concrete and their impact on quality, and predicting the service life of reinforced concrete structures. Part two reviews classical and standard testing methods including microscopic examination of deteriorated concrete, the analysis of solid components and their ratios in reinforced concrete structures, the determination of chlorides in concrete structures, and investigating the original water content of reinforced concrete structures. With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Non-destructive evaluation of reinforced concrete structures, Volume 1: Deterioration processes and standard test methods will be a standard reference for civil and structural engineers as well as those concerned with making decisions regarding the safety of reinforced concrete structures.