Strength predictions
A prediction of strength in concrete can be made through a range of methods and with numerous variables. To facilitate this, Arthur Harrisson examines the key factors that control strength development in concrete.
Figure 1: cement 28-day strengths
Various methods have been developed to predict the strength that a concrete may reach with a particular combination of cement, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), aggregate, admixture and even water. The variables are numerous and the priority to be accorded to each variable is not the same in each case. Therefore, it is worth examining what are the main controls over the strength of a concrete mix, making a few assumptions to limit the extreme number of possible results.
