The use of concrete in maritime engineering - a guide to good practice

Concrete is a highly versatile, cost-effective construction material, offering not only strength and durability, but also a wide range of opportunities in terms of structural type and form, construction techniques and surface aesthetics. It has been, and will continue to be used extensively in the marine environment. With over £700M spent on coastal defences in the UK every year at least 15 per cent of these works include concrete in various forms. Despite the recognised need for increasing levels of capital expenditure on concrete maritime structures, few technical guides on the design and maintenance of such structures exist. A need for consolidated guidance was identified by the UK and France, and joint action proposed to address industry requirements. This guide combines current information and new material with the aim to distil conclusions from existing research and practical experience, develop good practice guidance on marine concrete materials selection and design, and set out guidance on pre-casting of a variety of elements.