High performance concrete (HPC) is of great topical interest to the construction industry worldwide, with applications in high-rise, offshore, nuclear and bridge structures, and in precast concrete. Among the benefits of HPC are improved workability and strength, leading to faster and more economical construction; more durable concrete, especially important for bridges, offshore and nuclear structures, and highways; and improved structural characteristics, which allow more economical and efficient structural designs. The French national project, "New Developments for Concrete", is providing important insights into the materials characteristics of high performance concrete, and also of the structural behaviour of a number of major buildings and bridge structures. This book contains a series of 35 selected reviews and reports on HPC by the leading materials scientists and engineers contributing to the French programme. Previously, they have only been available to delegates at seminars and meetings in France but the most valuable have been edited and translated into English in order to make the results of the programme widely available.

Provides a thorough review of properties, durability and use of high performance concrete, derived from recent research and experience. This book contains contributions from the leading French, Canadian and Swiss researchers, designers and material specialists, translated into English for the first time.