Development of performance specifications for concrete construction

魁北克省拉瓦尔协和式大桥坍塌事故引起了全国和国际上对混凝土桥梁结构劣化的关注，并强调在设计新结构时需要改进评估方法和更有效的性能规范。拟议的研究计划旨在通过制定与混凝土流动特性相关的性能规范来提高国家混凝土交通基础设施的耐久性、使用寿命和最终安全。这些规范将基于材料特性和测试方法，以更准确地反映混凝土在恶劣环境中的性能。这样的研究计划将极大地提高我们的混凝土结构的性能，同时也培养出这一新兴领域所必需的高素质人才。

The de la Concorde bridge collapse in Laval, Quebec has focused attention across the country and internationally on the deterioration of concrete bridge structures and emphasizes the need for improved evaluation methods and more effective performance specifications in the design of new structures.The proposed research program is aimed at improving the durability, service life, and ultimately safety of the nation's concrete transportation infrastructure through the development of performance specifications related to the flow properties of the concrete. These specifications will be based upon material characteristics and test methods that more accurately reflect the behaviour of concrete in severe environments. Such a research program will greatly improve the performance of our concrete structures, while also producing the highly qualified personnel essential to this emerging field.