Review of Properties of Concrete, 5th Ed., by A. M. Neville

The most widely used construction material for engineered structures in the world is RC, and the primary component of RC is, of course, concrete. Although not as widely appreciated as it should be, concrete is perhaps the most nuanced of all construction materials; although it is essential that practicing engineers understand its basic properties and limitations, an understanding of its nuances is indispensable for engineers in the practice of forensic engineering. Failure of RC structures is as often attributable to materials performance as it is any other cause. Neville’s Properties of Concrete is a must have for any engineer or practitioner involved in portland cement construction, troubleshooting, or forensic engineering. It is a practical guide hewn from in-depth appreciation and consideration of the principles of concrete technology. In this age of Internet searches done for quick information but not knowledge, Neville’s treatise provides a reliable essential reference for almost everything concrete.

Concrete is different from many other construction materials in that it is usually batched at or near job sites and not fabricated in factories or manufacturing facilities and placed and finished in the field. Quality, and thus its nuance, is almost exclusively dependent on project-to-project materials selection and acquisition and on workmanship during construction in variable environmental conditions. Moreover, the performance requirements for concrete are highly variable from project to project. Therefore, engineering supervision on the site and during mix development is essential if the engineer’s design intent is to be achieved in the as-built structure. Neville’s Properties of Concrete provides engineers with essential information for understanding the principles of concrete, solving concrete-related problems, avoiding common pitfalls, and assessing its in-field performance.

Neville begins Properties of Concrete with an in-depth discussion of portland cement chemistry and hydration, a critical subject and an appropriate place to start. This is valuable reading for engineers and practitioners accustomed to watching concrete dry. Although cement manufacture is somewhat controlled, other cementitious waste products having less quality control are often added to concrete. Neville provides a thorough articulation of how these various materials react with portland cement and how they affect concrete properties and long-term performance.

This book is an excellent resource for understanding how concrete is properly made and tested and what can go wrong during preparation and placement. Relationships between cement chemistry, admixtures, aggregate properties, temperature, and curing and their effect on concrete properties are presented. Although the theory of these interactions is provided in great detail, their influence on time-dependent concrete properties, such as elasticity, shrinkage, creep, and durability, are also fully described in a practical and approachable manner.

Given all the uncertainties involved, concrete has proven to be a very forgiving material for construction. However, problems occur, and long-term durability of concrete has not always been good. Durable concrete is often a function of the raw materials selected, specifically the aggregates. In part because aggregates are the largest component of concrete, they have a dramatic effect on concrete properties, placeability, and durability. Durability of concrete under various conditions of exposure, including carbonation and alkali-silica reaction, is treated fully, as are unique environmental challenges such as coastal areas of the hotter regions of the world, where a great deal of construction is taking place.

The first edition of this book appeared in 1963 and was an instant classic as a compendium of information underlying concrete behavior assembled from research around the world. At its core, the book has always relied on landmark studies that included a wide range of material sources and hundreds of test samples that established principles of concrete performance. Modern studies often include a very limited number of tests and test samples, using single-material sources and very accelerated test methods from which wide-reaching conclusions are sometimes drawn. Neville integrates new research that makes sense of such subjects as delayed ettringite formation, recycled concrete aggregate, self-compacting concrete, thaumasite sulfate attack, and paste-aggregate bond; however, thankfully it avoids drawn-out discussion of an endless succession of formulas frequently described in modern academic research, each derived from a small set of data using accelerated but often unrealistic test methods. Neville’s fifth edition updates references to new international standards and includes new research but is timeless in that it focuses on the rules and principles of good concrete production. Citations are amply provided, enabling the reader to easily seek out the source studies.

Making a moderate change in a concrete mix often results in unexpected results. Neville provides the bases for understanding why; he strives to integrate the various topics to highlight their interdependence and to aid the reader’s understanding of the physical and chemical phenomena involved. This information provides an essential basis for tackling the unfamiliar and for diagnosing concrete gone wrong. Ever the teacher, he remains committed to educating the reader on the general rules of concrete that hold true regardless of location or local material. Neville assists the reader in understanding concrete so any problem can be approached and resolved based on rules rather than chance research. This education is the true value of Neville’s work.

In its now five editions and 12 translations, Neville’s book has served well those involved with structures of concrete. It is the ultimate concrete reference book, yet is so usable in everyday practice that we each keep one within easy reach of our desks. Neville’s comprehensive explanation of the behavior of concrete provides an integrated view of the properties of concrete focusing on underlying scientific reasons. Neville himself states “The ultimate purpose of this book is to facilitate better construction in concrete,” and so it does. The authors thank you, Adam Neville, for your lifelong efforts in assisting all of us in engineering and construction to create “good concrete and durable concrete structures.”