Briefing: Concrete – innovations and practical applications

Concrete is a highly adaptable material and capable of considerable variation, development and innovation, as can be seen from the pages of journals such as the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Construction Materials. This briefing paper describes the 43rd Convention of the Institute of Concrete Technology, which took place on 26 March 2015. The event provided an opportunity for practitioners and researchers to meet and communicate, and to showcase the variety and diversity of current innovations, developments and applications in concrete and cement technology, including carbon-negative aggregate, polycarboxylate ether superplasticisers, waste wood in concrete, steel fibres, calcium aluminate cements, superabsorbent polymers and sprayed concrete tunnel linings.