In all fields of construction, concrete excels as the most important building material of our time. It is characterised by strength, durability and virtually unlimited mouldability. New areas of application and higher demands necessitate continual advances in the development of concrete and its application techniques to provide the building material with the performance spectrum required and maintain its economic competitiveness.

Research and development in the “concrete technology” domain covers current and important questions from the fields of concrete constituents, concrete engineering and concrete application. The erection of durable structures constitutes an essential part of research. The use of Portland-composite cements is of particular importance in this context. Moreover, focus is placed on concrete resistance to acid and to freeze-thaw or freeze-thaw with de-icing salt, respectively. Several research projects are concerned with preventing harmful alkali-silica reactions and with the sulphate resistance of concrete.

Fundamental research into the interaction of cement and concrete admixtures, such as super-plasticisers, shrinkage reducing admixtures, long-term retarders and air-entraining agents, constitutes a further key subject of research activities. The technical and economic advancement of self-compacting concrete and the use of concrete in traffic route engineering are further focuses.

Research results find their way into numerous committees. The Institute is involved in the work on national DIN (German Institute for Standardisation) standards and international CEN standards, the guidelines issued by the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt) and the German Committee for Reinforced Concrete (DAfStb), and the regulations established by the Research Association for Roads and Traffic (FGSV), to name but a few.