GR Technologie Ltd (Concrete Solutions) is one of the UK's leading companies specialising in training in concrete and concrete repair.

We lecture regularly on topics associated with the inspection and repair of concrete. Training courses are presented at one of several regional centres around the country. A range of courses is offered, typical examples being presented below. Bespoke courses on any aspect of construction practice, materials or construction management can be arranged however. Please enquire for details. The course shown immediately below is a two-day event, with the first day devoted to understanding concrete as a material. This course will be suitable for contractors, technicians who want to understand a little more about concrete, and also as a refresher for Engineers. The "Concrete for Engineers and Contractors" course can be combined with the course below to make a 2 day event, or either day can be taken on its own. We can also offer bespoke courses in concrete practice, in any aspect of materials or construction management.

We also present a range of other concrete practice courses varying in length from a half day to four days.  Further details are below.

If you are looking for other courses, see:-

Underoak - The UK Training Index

URL: http://www.underoak.co.uk

Description:      A directory of training courses and training consultants for all areas of management development and IT / computer skills training.   The directory holds details of over 25,000 scheduled public training courses and more than 120,000 dates for public courses.

Comments from Previous Courses

"A very informative and useful course, well presented and brought across"
"Very interesting and educational, well presented in a pleasant atmosphere"
"I found this to be a very informative lecture with good reference to practical situations"
"Very informative and interesting presentations. Well delivered, good, clear course notes for future reference and to help focus on talk. Useful demonstrations".

Costs are based on either £225 per day per head for public courses or bespoke courses typically start at around £1150 per day (with a limit of about 15 on numbers) Plus VAT.

UNDERSTANDING CONCRETE DEFECTS, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR

INTENDED FOR

Technicians and Engineers who need a basic understanding or revision of concrete deterioration mechanisms, methods of diagnosis, and techniques for concrete repair. The course is intended as a stand alone course or can be combined with our course on Understanding Concrete, held the previous day, at the same venue.

MAX PARTICIPANTS - 20

THE SPEAKER

Eur Chem Michael Grantham BA CChem FRSC IEng MIQA AMICT

Mike has worked for several of the major testing houses in a career spanning some 30 years. He has been involved in a considerable amount of testing work on bridges and other heavy structures such as; car parks, office buildings, multi-storey flats, down to small scale problems with prc housing. He lectures regularly for Thomas Telford Training on their courses.

TARGET BENEFITS

After the course, participants will have an understanding of deterioration mechanisms for concrete, methods for diagnosis of these problems, including some of the newer techniques such as linear polarisation, radar, infra red thermography etc. They will understand how these techniques are applied in diagnosis, how concrete repairs can effectively deal with the problems, and, for bridge engineers, methods of testing both conventional and post tensioned and prestressed bridges, including the latest remote monitoring techniques.

9.00	Registration and Coffee
9:30	What is concrete: constituents, cement, aggregates, steel, admixtures. Special problems arising from the use of materials. Carbonation of concrete, calcium chloride, high alumina cement.
	Recognising concrete defects: Structural cracks, reinforcement corrosion, alkali silica reaction, frost damage, shrinkable aggregates, chemical attack, fire damage, poor quality construction, plastic cracking - plastic settlement and plastic shrinkage cracks.
10:30	Coffee
11:00	Investigation of defects - the Two Stage Approach
	Desk study, visual surveys, covermeter survey, ultrasonic pulse velocity surveys, sampling by coring and dust drilling, chemical analysis, determining compressive strength, petrographic examination, rebound hammer, other near to surface tests - the Windsor Probe, the LOK test, break off tests, sub surface radar, infra red thermography.
12:30	Questions and discussion
1:00	Lunch
2:00	Testing for reinforcement corrosion: Half cell potential, resistivity, linear polarisation measurements to determine corrosion rate of steel (section loss per year).
3:00	Tea
3:30	Concrete repairs: the patch repair approach - when to use and when not to use it, understanding the cost implications and remeasurement. Electrochemical repair: cathodic protection, realkalisation and desalination. What they do, how they work, practical experience. Corrosion inhibitors, what they are and do they work?
4:45	Questions and discussion
5:00	Course closes

All delegates will be given a certificate of attendance. Full and detailed course notes, with photographs and illustrations are provided on CD-ROM (80+ pages).

 

CONCRETE FOR ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS

INTENDED FOR

Technicians and Engineers who need a basic understanding or revision of concrete and its properties. The course is intended as a stand alone course or can be combined with our course on Diagnosis Inspection Testing and Repair of Concrete Structures held on the following day.

MAX PARTICIPANTS - 15

THE SPEAKER

Tony Binns- Spent the early part of his career producing, supervising and dealing with Quality Control, before joining the staff of the C&CA’s training centre. With them, he lectured for 14 years on concrete materials topics including mix design and ready mixed concrete. Tony then spent two years with a major civil engineering contractor and now runs his own training company running courses in the UK and overseas.

TARGET BENEFITS

After the course, participants will have an understanding of the fundamental properties of concrete and those of the mix ingredients, including admixtures and reinforcement. Some concrete defects are introduced (with this theme developed on the second day for those taking the 2 day course). Participants will also understand how concrete is specified using British Standards. They will also understand the steps that are taken when non-conformity of the concrete occurs.

08:45	Registration & Coffee
Session 1	Performance of concrete on site: Consistence (Workability) Uniformity Cohesiveness Segregation Bleeding Early-age cracking
	Questions and Coffee
Session 2	Specifying and Ordering Ready Mixed Concrete Using the new British Standards BS EN206-1 and BS8500 Using BRE Digest Special Digest - Concrete in Aggressive Ground New Aggregate Standards BS EN 12620 Concrete mixes Essential and optional Information Alternative Cements Admixtures Selecting the correct consistence (workability) Calling off from site
Session 3	Control and inspection Visual checks - what to watch for on site Time limits for delivery, placing and finishing May water be added to the concrete on site? What to do if the slump is wrong - action based on British Standard Procedures
12:15	Questions
12:30	Lunch
Session 4	Management of Concrete Construction Pre-concreting checks Access arrangements Transporting concrete across the site Techniques for handling and placing concrete Compaction, under and over-vibration Curing Early striking of formwork Finishing, making good and repairs to concrete
	Questions and Tea
Session 5	Interpretation of strength test results How to sample and slump concrete correctly How to make and store test cubes correctly The meaning of strength classes Monitoring target strengths What is a cube failure?
Session 6	What to do if cubes fail How to make an investigation Validation Assessment of insitu concrete Core testing Non-destructive testing Making decisions from data
16:45	Discussion
17:00	Course closes

Module 0

A half-day course for site operatives and technicians in the control of concrete on site.

Programme

 Procuring concrete

Day-to-day ordering of ready-mixed concrete from site

Receiving concrete on site

Inspecting ready-mixed concrete before discharge

What to watch for

The new rules regarding conformity testing

Identity testing: what it means

Composite samples and Spot samples

How to obtain a representative sample of fresh concrete

How to do a slump test to BS EN 12350-2

How to make test cubes to BS EN 12390-2

Looking after test cubes

Questions and answers

Course close.

MODULE W.O.

TESTING FRESH CONCRETE ON SITE

A half-day training workshop

Programme 

 1030   Arrival and introduction to Classroom Session

 Aims and objectives of the course

 Health and safety       -     cement burns    -       manual handling of heavy objects

 Apparatus for sampling and testing fresh concrete

 Methods for sampling fresh concrete on site

 Standard technique for testing the consistence of concrete by slump test

 Compacting concrete test cubes

 Referencing test cubes

 Storing test cubes

 Demoulding test cubes

 Curing test cubes

  Preparing test cubes for transit to laboratories

 1230  Lunch

 1315  Practical Workshop Session - sampling and testing fresh concrete

 Individual assessments

 Multiple-choice quiz: Sampling and Testing Fresh Concrete

 Final discussion, questions and answers

 1530    Afternoon tea, course close and depart.

 Module 1

CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY AND BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE

A one-day course for construction managers and site supervisors in the control of concrete.

Programme

Fresh concrete

Consistence requirements:   Getting the right slump and getting the slump right

Checking cohesion:   Problems of segregation, honeycombing, bleeding and reinforcement ripple

Concrete as an engineering material

Concrete schedules:   Strength, water/cement ratio, minimum cement content and slump

Concrete strength:   The meaning of C40/50 etc

Durability and how it is achieved:   Resistance to cracking, abrasion, freezing

Placing and compacting concrete on site:  

The myth of over-vibration

Correct use of poker vibrators and beam vibrators

Curing:   What it means and why it matters

Accepting readymix concrete on site        

- What to watch for:  slump, uniformity, appearance

- What not to sign for:  time limitations, adding water to concrete on site

Sampling and testing fresh concrete

- Slump test, cube making, storing and curing cubes

- What to do when the cubes fail

Action plan

Questions, answers and final discussion.

Module 2

A two-day course for foremen and site engineers in the control of concrete on site.

 Programme

 DAY 1 

 Review of concrete properties

Strength grades

The trouble with water/cement ratio

Consistence

Cohesion, segregation and bleeding

Durability 

Materials update

Cementitious materials

Properties of blended cements

Aggregates including “fines”

Admixtures, Additives and Additions

Concrete faults (1)

Construction defects

Blow holes

Honeycombing

Grout loss

Scour

Water runs & sand streaks

Laboratory practical exercise:

Trial mixes

Effect of changing the water/cement ratio

Slump testing

Flowing/self-compacting concrete

Air content

Cube making and curing

Demonstration – Cube testing

Concrete faults (2)

Non-structural cracking

Thermal cracking

Plastic cracking

Plastic settlement

Plastic shrinkage

Drying Shrinkage

Overnight syndicate project:

Early-age cracking. 

DAY 2

 Syndicate reports

 Outline of concrete types

          Nominal mixes

          Prescribed concretes

          Standardized prescribed concretes

          Designed concretes

          Designated concretes

          Proprietary concretes

          Durability criteria                  

Concretes for specific applications

Selecting appropriate workability levels

Watertight construction

High quality surface finishes

Supervision of concrete construction (1)

          Procurement of concrete

          Checking and testing

          What to do if the slump is wrong

          Transporting concrete

 Supervision of concrete construction (2)

    Compaction

         Over-vibration

         Under-vibration

                   Secondary vibration

        Curing 

 Conformity criteria (1)

            Interpretation of test results 

  Evaluating test results

Comparing yesterday’s trial mixes

 Conformity criteria (2)

Action on non-conformity

 Contractor-specific topics

 Questions, answers and final discussion.

Module 4

A four-day course for project leaders and site engineers in the control of concrete.

Programme

 MONDAY        Arrival, registration and lunch

Review of concrete materials, composition and properties.  

Cements

Pulverized-Fuel Ash

Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Sllag

Silica fume

Aggregates

Admixtures

Mixing water including reclaimed water

Free water/cement ratio.

Concrete specification: BS 5328 / BS 8500 / SD1.

Concrete Classes

Types of concrete

Air-entrainment and freeze/thaw resistance

Sulfate resistance

Overnight Project 1 – Specification and conformity      

TUESDAY                                                      

Briefing for laboratory practical and travel to laboratory.

Laboratory practical:

Concrete mixes

Use of admixtures

Conformity and identity testing

Consistence

Air content

Making and curing of test cubes

Questions and discussion on concrete technology and quality control.

Management of concrete on site (1)     Transporting concrete on site.                         

Management of concrete on site (2)     Placing and compacting concrete

Management of concrete on site (3)     Reinforcement.

Checking

Scheduling

Non-ferrous reinforcement.

Overnight Project 2.

WEDNESDAY            

Management of concrete on site  (4)  Curing.

Management of concrete on site  (5)  Joints.                                                 

Management of concrete on site  (6)  Falsework & formwork.

Video - Formwork practice.

Video and discussion: Pre-concreting checks.

Making good and finishing new concrete.

Video and discussion – Repairs.

Overnight Project 3 - Non-structural cracks.

THURSDAY     

Repairs to old concrete.

Project reports.

Discussion on construction management.

Procuring concrete, identity testing, what to watch for

Briefing for visit, travel to ready-mixed concrete depot.

Visit to readymixed concrete batching plant. 

Order processing

Plant, workforce and equipment

Materials and mix design

Shipping, production and delivery

Quality control.

Crushing cubes made earlier

FRIDAY         

Strength development, maturity of concrete and striking times.

Conformity criteria 

Action on non-conformity

Final discussion and course close

Lunch and depart.

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GR TECHNOLOGIE LTD./CONCRETE WORKSHOPS INTERNATIONAL

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Copyright © 2010 GR Technologie Ltd.
Last modified: March 03, 2010