Compatibility issues between cement and chemical admixtures in concrete

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) in association with Indian Concrete Institute (Tamil Nadu State Centre) is organising a one day workshop on 'Compatibility issues between cement and chemical admixtures in concrete' during April 9, 2010 at IC&SR Building, IIT Madras, Chennai.

Modern concretes incorporate several chemical admixtures, each of which may interact with the various constituents of the cement, and influence cement hydration reactions. Water-reducing chemicals are commonly used in concrete, to either increase the workability or strength (by reducing water content). In spite of extensive use of these chemicals, the mechanisms governing their interactions with cement are not well understood. Furthermore, with the increasing number of types and brands of cement and variants of the water-reducing chemicals, there are issues that arise related to the compatibility between these two ingredients of concrete. Most users apply a trial-and-error approach to these chemicals, often resulting in an unfortunate negative experience and/or low cost-effectiveness.

For the past five years, IIT Madras has been engaged in research on cement-water reducer compatibility. The research has thrown new light on the issues that arise out of cement-water reducer incompatibility. To disseminate the experience gained and to address the issue IIT in association with Indian Concrete Institute (Tamil Nadu State Centre) is organising a one day workshop.

The workshop will feature talks by experts from the concrete materials industry, along with a panel discussion on the subject. The discussions arising out of the workshop are expected to benefit cement and admixture manufacturers, concrete producers, as well as engineering contractors.

The workshop will feature:

• Overview of chemical admixtures for concrete; focus on water reducers / SPs, covering their mechanisms of action.
  
• Compatibility issues - such as lack of slump retention, retarded setting, low rate of strength gain - and their possible causes
  
• Lessons learnt through research on compatibility issues
  
• Control of cement for good compatibility
  
• Modification of water reducers for good compatibility
  
• Examples of incompatibility from the field
  
• Open discussion
  

For more details, please contact:

Manu Santhanam
Associate Professor,
Department of Civil Engineering,
IIT Madras, Chennai 600 036.
Tel: 044-22574283
Email: manus@iitm.ac.in

SEWC India 2010 - International Colloquium

SEWC(India) partnering with INSTRUCT (Institute for training in Construction Trades and Management) and the IIA (Indian Institute of Architects, Karnataka Chapter) are organising International Colloquium - '2010 Architecture-Structure Interaction for Sustainable Built Environment' at Nimhans Convention Centre, Bengaluru during April 22-25, 2010.

With greenhouse emissions at unprecedented levels and global warming emerging as the unified concern of all responsible professionals, the focus of the engineering community is now increasingly on creating a sustainable habitat. This colloquium is targeted at engineers, consultants, architects, interior designers, government officials, construction engineers and managers, academicians, students and everyone connected with the building and construction industry. This event is a very rare opportunity to listen to stalwarts from all over the world - both the best of structural engineer as top architects.

The event will feature among other galaxy of speakers Dr. Leslie E Robertson (popularly known for the 492 meter tall Shanghai World Financial Center completed in 2008), Prof. Mamoru Kawaguchi (Inventor of Pantadome System for Spatial Structures, Lawrence S NG (Principal, Pelli Architects: Designers of Petronas Towers, still the tallest twin tower in the world), William F. BAKER, Partner, Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP (best known as the engineer of Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest manmade structure). The event will also feature an exhibition.

For more details, please contact:

K.P. Pradeep
Chairman - Publicity Committee
SEWC - India 2010
C/o INSTRUCT
1st Floor, UVCE Alumni Association Building
KR Circle, Bangalore 560 001
Tel: +91 80 2229-4291
Mob: 09381037996
Fax: +91 80 2224-3257

Innovative World of Structural Engineering

The Department of Applied Mechanics, Government College of Engineering, Aurangabad, (Maharashtra) is organising an international conference on "Innovative World of Structural Engineering (ICIWSE-2010)", during September 17-19, 2010 at Aurangabad.

The conference is intended for civil and structural engineers, architects and associated professional concerned with the state-of-the-art design, construction, monitoring and performance of the structures, e.g. building and bridges.

For more details, please contact:

Dr. R.S. Londhe
Organising Secretary ICIWSE- 2010
Department of Applied Mechanics
Govt. College of engineering,
Aurangabad 431 005,
Maharashtra, India
Tel: +91-(0240) 2366162/161,
Fax: (0240) 2332835
Mobile : 09960743849
E-mail : iciwse2010@geca.ac.in / drlondhe07@gmail.com
Web: www.iciwse-2010.com

Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. wins Rs 938 crore Kolkata Metro order

Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. (Afcons), the infrastructure arm of Shapoorji Pallonji Group, has bagged a Rs 938-crore project from the Kolkata Metro Corporation through competitive bidding. This project is to be completed in four years time.

The project includes design and construction of Underground Metro from Howrah Maidan station to Central Station which is a part of East West Metro Project in Kolkata. This is the first time in India, a Transportation Tunnel Project is running approximately 20 m below a river, and hence challenging. This project will be a boon to commuters travelling from Howrah to Kolkata City. Latest technologies will be used in the construction of this under river link and will go a long way in boosting the transportation infrastructure of Kolkata City.

Afcons Infrastructure Limited in a Joint Venture with a Russian company namely Transtonnelstroy Limited has bagged this prestigious contract which comprises of three underground stations at Howrah Maidan and Mahakaran respectively, one Crossover at Howrah Maidan and Twin Bored tunnels using earth pressure balancing machine which is essentially a tunnel boring machine in soft soil. Length of tunnel: Twin Bored Tunnel: 2954 m and approximately 520 m is under the river Hooghly.

- Company press release

In memoriam

Jean-Claude (J.C.) Roumain, FACI, of Centennial, Colorado, passed away on January 8, 2010, after struggling against cancer. He was 61 years old. Roumain had recently retired as Corporate Product Manager for Holcim (US) Inc. He was a member of The Strategic Development Council (SDC), the Board Advisory Committee on Sustainable Development, and the Fellows Nomination Committee; he was also an Associates Member of ACI Committees 225, Hydraulic Cements, and 232, fly Ash and Natural Pozzolans in Concrete.

He had previously served on the ACI Convention Committee, the International Membership Committee, and ACI Committees 234, Silica Fume in Concrete, and 350, Environmental Engineering Concrete Structures. Roumain joined ACI in 1992 and was named an ACI fellow in 2003. Roumain was an impassioned speaker on cement and concrete's contribution to sustainability. In 2007, he helped organise the Concrete Summit on Sustainability in Washington, DC, that drew more than 100 industry leaders, an event facilitated by the SDC.

- Concrete International, March 2010, V32, N3