Course Syllabus

Course Description:

     The use of mortar and stucco originated in the Neolithic period.  The Romans expanded this technology with the development of cast-in-place concrete construction.  This course discusses the growing importance of these materials and techniques during the Industrial Revolution, reviewing discoveries that led to the development of novel lime- and cement-based compositions from the late 18th century to the present.  By the 20th century, advances in technology transformed concrete and precast from functional engineering media into the most expressive and sculptural substances of modernism. 

     The visual simplicity of these the materials belies the complexity of their curing and aging mechanisms.  Materials science is the fundamental tool used to examine history, and to define suitable repair, replication and maintenance methods for masonry and concrete structures.  Key topics are binder types and curing mechanisms; the role of aggregates and admixtures; building performance criteria; construction/manufacturing methods; and laboratory evaluation.  It is one of a series of courses on architectural materials recommended to historic preservation students focusing on technical conservation issues.

Readings:

     Relevant readings will be posted to CourseWorks for every session, and these will supplement and clarify the material covered in class.  In some cases, the lectures will build on knowledge derived directly from the readings.  We will try to reserve a few minutes at the start of each class to give you an opportunity to ask questions and/or to render opinions on the readings.

Participation:

     All students are expected to take an active role in the class.  Do not apologize for your questions, even if they seem tangential… answering them is the real reason we're teaching this course!  We will do our best to make the course content understandable and interesting; please be fully engaged.  Interrupt lectures for clarification and feel free to challenge us with thoughtful arguments.

Annotated Bibliography:

Students are required to complete an annotated bibliography on a topic of their choice by the end of the semester (May 1).  More details on the assignment and its due date will be discussed during the first lecture.

Lecture Schedule:

Class 1, March 6:  Introduction; Raw materials

• Terminology by use/composition
• Binders: limes, cements, gypsum, pozzolan-based
• Sand, gravel, and crushed stone; particle size distribution and shape
• Air-entrainers, water-reducers, and set-controllers
• Pigments

Class 2, March 20:  Mortar & stucco; Performance (plan to get dirty)

• Mixing materials and examining properties - lab component
• Mixes and workability
• Strength, set time, and durability
• Shrinkage, adhesion, and appearance as performance criteria

Class 3, March 27:  History of cast stone & concrete

• Artificial stone and “artistic concrete”
• Concrete in Europe
• American pioneers (including Fowler, Hyatt, Edison, Earley, and Akeley)

Class 4, April 3:  Evolution of construction technology

• Reinforcement
• “Scientific” mix design and w/c
• Formwork
• Transit mixing

Class 5, April 10:  Failure mechanisms

• Surface defects
• Carbonation and environmental weathering
• Freeze-thaw distress
• Sulfate attack
• Alkali-aggregate reactions

Class 6, April 17:  Repair and maintenance of concrete

• Cleaning
• Water-repellents and MCI’s
• Crack injection
• Patching
• Carbon fiber strengthening