The book covers all aspects of the petrographic study of hardened concrete and related materials, from the selection of sample material and its preparation as petrographic specimens to a detailed discussion of the methods of examination and equipment.

The core of the book is the review of the features of concrete that can be observed and identified using a petrological microscope. Defects, deterioration and failures that can occur in concrete are explained, and the observations and petrographic evidence that demonstrate their presence are illustrated.

The clear descriptions and illustrations make it easy for engineers and petrographers alike to identify precisely the causes of the properties they can observe in a concrete sample, leading to more accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment of problems in structural concrete.

* Detailed full-colour illustrations throughout
* Comprehensive survey of the observable evidence of concrete defects and failures
* Updated to include the latest petrographic technologies and techniques