Primary publication: TIEFBAU April 2006

Summary:  In its fresh state, concrete is a mixture prepared with water and consisting of cement used as binder, finer and coarser aggregates, and additives and admixtures; in its hardened state it is an artificial conglomerate rock used in the construction of buildings. The development of plasticizing admixtures at the beginning of the 1960s meant that it was no longer necessary to adjust the amount of water in the concrete to the requirement of good workability. This step opened the way for the introduction of superplasticized concrete. A new development is Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC), which was first manufactured in Japan about 15 years ago. Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is a concrete that flows to a virtually uniform level under the influence of gravity, during which it completely de-aerates until the desired air void content is achieved, encloses the reinforcement as well as any incorporated components and recesses, and completely fills all voids and the spaces between the reinforcement.