History of Concrete

The following sections are included:

• Foreword by Luke Snell
• Preface by Per Jahren
• Preface by Tongbo Sui
• Acknowledgments
• About the Authors
• Contents

Somewhat mixed opinions can be found about what can be regarded as the first concrete. Various authors have various views about the correct definition of concrete. The composition or mixture design and the production methods of the first concrete were different from what we have today. However, the material has proved its strength and durability over thousands of years.

The following sections are included:

• Pre-portland
• Portland cement
• After Hennebique
• Norwegian concrete

The following sections are included:

• Historic structures
  • NORWAY
  • England
  • USA
  • The Nordic countries
  • Other countries
• Design
  • Frank Lloyd Wright (1869–1959)
  • Pier Luigi Nervi (21 June 1891–09 January 1979)
  • Le Corbusier (1887–1965)
  • Kenzo Tange (04 September 1913–22 March 2005)
  • Some Norwegian designers
  • Others

What might be called “the concrete industry” covers a wide range of technologies, uses, and trades. In this chapter, We have tried to cite some historical examples and provide an overview of some of these sectors and at the same time remind the readers about the many challenges and ideas that concrete represents. Most importantly, the chapter also briefs about the many enthusiasts who have played characteristic roles in the industry and set their footprints in the history of concrete and have spread technology, experience, and enthusiasm among their colleagues in the concrete industry and the society as a whole.

The following sections are included:

• General
  • Norway
  • Denmark
  • Sweden
  • Finland
  • Cooperation among European cement producers
• The Norwegian cement plants
  • Slemmestad
  • Ce-No
  • Dalen
  • Kjøpsvik
• The cement museum at Slemmestad

Portland cement, the most commonly used construction materials, has been increasingly contributing to social and economic progress of human beings since the birth of the first Portland cement patent in 1824 by Joseph Aspdin. Importance is that the demand for Portland cement in the future will continue to increase by the year 2050 according to the WWF-A blueprint for a climate friendly cement industry. There are no other binders that can compete with Portland cement considering the wide availability of raw materials, the large versatility of the performance and functionality as well as the reasonable economic viability of production and application. Nevertheless, modern society has been more commonly recognized the fact that the huge volume consumption of cement also leads to tremendous consumption of energy and natural non-renewable fossil minerals such as limestone. The CO₂ emission from global cement industry, accounts for 5% of anthropic CO₂ emission and 8% of industrial CO₂ emission.

We will be careful in predicting the future of concrete. We are certain that great changes would have taken place when the history of concrete is written hundred years from now.

The following sections are included:

• References
• Names
• The years