Introduction

RHEOLOGY OF FRESH CONCRETE

Dear colleagues, we are contacting you on behalf of the organizing committee of the Rilem International Symposium on Rheology of Cement Suspensions such as fresh Concrete and the 18th Nordic Rheology Conference on suspension rheology.

The development of rheology of cement based materials has been substantial during the last decade, as the building industry has welcomed it to be a long needed solution for different conditions. There are always new dispersing additives coming on the market, or for that reason different types of materials, like shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA).

Stabilizers are a good example for the need of rheology as they have even been named viscosity enhancing agents, but some even reduce viscosity (or at least the plastic viscosity) as others might have no significant influence or even as expected, increase the viscosity. The Kyoto protocol might greatly influence the quality of cement in nearest future, in particular regarding the cement admixture interaction problems.

By combining the two conferences the participants will have unique opportunitiy to explore different specific subjects since the Rilem participants will have access to the NRC conference and vice versa. Both conferences will share the invited lectures during the opening lectures.