CONTECH summary report

CONTECH is a concrete research project that has been going on since 1992. Every year a consortium that has changed a little during the years decides which topics are studied. The consortium consists of the Finnish Road Administration, The Finnish Rail Administration, cities and during the last four years State Nuclear Waste Management Fund has replaced Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. Also companies participate the project every now and then. CONTECH consists of several smaller practical projects dealing with concrete structures. During the years 2003-2006 some 30 projects have been carried out. Examples of topics that have been studied: * internal curing agents of concrete, * very rapid hardening grouts, * maximum harmless extent and type of rust on reinforcement bars during construction, * cathodic protection of reinforcement have been studied, * cumulation of salts in concrete, * quality requirements and verification methods of concrete protective agents, * non-destructive testing methods of reinforcement corrosion, * pretreatment of concrete surface for hydrophobic impregnation, * quality requirements and verification methods of concrete curing agents, * quality requirements of self-compacting concrete, * quality requirements of form liners and their usage, * effect of form liners and hydrophobic impregnation on chloride permeability. The results obtained are directly applicable in practice. E.g. directions and specifications are made on the basis of the test results.