这第三版是一本启发和发人深省的书，而不是一本参考书。它根据作者的经验而不是公认的教条给出了经验证的建议。它指出了当前标准技术和理念的缺陷。这本书是写给学生、实用主义者或研究工作者的——写给任何想真正思考具体问题的人，而不是“按书办事”。在混凝土的设计和控制方面，它为大大小小的生产商和控制者提供全面、易于理解的帮助。自密实混凝土的重要性迅速增加； 实力不断增强；必须使用边际骨料；质量控制是必须的；生存需要最大限度的节约。波特兰水泥生产是二氧化碳的主要来源，必须尽量减少其使用。过时的规范和过时的控制方法必须废除。混凝土已经成为一种复杂的材料，产生了大量的计算机系统。Ken Day展示了如何使用简单的免费程序应用多级、多变量、cusum质量控制和特定表面混合设计的基本原理。他还展望了复杂系统在广泛运营中控制和营销大量和多种混合产品的未来挑战。 精心设计的系统给较大的生产商带来了巨大的好处，但小生产商仍然可以实现有竞争力的混合设计和严格的质量控制，而无需过度支出或广泛的理论研究。

This third edition is a stimulating and thought provoking book, rather than a work of reference. It gives proven advice from the author's experience rather than accepted dogma. It points out defects in current standard techniques and philosophies. It is a book for a student, a practical person, or a research worker - for anyone who wants to actually think about concrete, rather than "work by the book". It provides comprehensive, readily understandable assistance to producers and controllers, large and small, in the design and control of concrete.Self-compacting concrete is of rapidly increasing importance; strengths are constantly rising; marginal aggregates must be used; quality control is a must; and survival necessitates maximum economy. Portland cement production is a major source of CO2 and its use must be minimized. Antiquated specifications and antiquated control methods must go.Concrete has become a complex material, generating a substantial number of computerized systems. Ken Day shows how his basic principles of multigrade, multivariable, cusum quality control and specific surface mix design can be applied using simple free programs. He also looks at the future challenge of complex systems for controlling and marketing a large number and variety of mixes in widespread operations. Elaborate systems pay big dividends to the larger producer, but the small producer can still achieve competitive mix designs and close quality control without either excessive expenditure or extensive theoretical study.