Title: Developing Performance Specification For Cement

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Publication: CIA

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Date: 2/13/2011

Abstract:
A review of the history of cement development (Ref 1,2) shows clearly that the prime objectives from ancient to modern times have been performance and the search for improved performance in mortar and concrete. In fact cement standards have had performance aspects right from the start. Although cements may have been named or classified based on their ingredients, the key to their use has been their performance (eg strength, strength gain, setting time, soundness) which have been requirements in the Australian cement standard since mid 1920.s (Ref 3). Thus the first standard specification for cement was a hybrid of performance and prescription requirements. The prescriptive limits were clearly intended to assure performance. Performance standards and specifications state the behaviour desired by users without regard to the specific means to be employed in making the product. Therefore, performance based cement standards are considered to benefit not only users, by leaving no doubt that the .engineering. requirements of the cement are met, but also producers by allowing innovation and the development of new, improved materials and applications. This concept was the basis of the Australian Standard for Cement, AS 3972 Portland and Blended Cement, which has been developed to its current version over a period of 10 years.