Become a Better Construction Manager – Learn About Concrete

Today's construction manager needs to understand how the most widely used building material on Earth actually works.

Created by: Jim Rogers
More knowledge makes better construction profesionals

What Will I Learn?

• Describe the difference between concrete and cement
• List the basic components or ingredients needed to make concrete
• Define terms used to describe concrete and its components
• Explain how the concrete industry utilizes industrial by-products to enhance its products and proceses while being more eco-friendly
• Describe the chemical process through which concrete gets hard
• Discuss the various ways that chemical admixtures can be used to alter the properties of concrete

Requirements

• There are no prerequisites for this course and there is not any particular self-study needed before beginning this course. The short introduction section in this course will ensure that everyone understands the fundamentals before continuing with the course.
• If you are new to the construction industry you can download and refer to the Guide to Concrete Terms and Definitions published by the American Concrete Institute. There is a link to download this reference for free in Lecture 4 of this course.
• You will need a software that allows you to view PDF files in order to download the handouts attached to this course.

Target audience

• This course is meant for anyone that has responsibilities as a construction management professional. This course will give you a basic understanding of the chemistry behind the making of modern concrete, and will get you familiar with the terms used by the professionals and experts in the industry. This course is ideal for construction professionals that may not have formal training in concrete or material sciences. This course is also ideal for anyone that is just getting started in the industry, or anyone that wants to go beyond a basic understanding of concrete and move to a level of understanding that will help you communicate with designers, producers and other professionals.
• If you have ever wondered what terms like "pozzolan" or "hydraulic cement" mean, or if you have ever wondered if things like "fly ash" make the concrete better or is just a filler, then this course is definitely for you!
• Do you work with concrete every day, but need a refresher on the terminology, or an update on things like admixtures? This is a great course for your continuing education.
• If you are already have a solid background in material science related to concrete, or if you are someone like an ACI Certified Lab Technician, then this course may not be for you.