Therefore, it is the cement paste in conventional concrete that is the most important MSE systems component because it can potentially be tailored to fit the job. Solutions to specific problems have been sought without considering the entire structure from an MSE systems perspective. The interaction of all these acIditives has sometimes created further problems. Consequently, the first priority in the design of the construction material of the future should be to apply an MSE systems approach that takes into account all of the problems to which structures are exposed. This may mean that different material designs will be required for different applications, that the surface layers of a structure may have to be different from the rest of the structure, or that a multilayered structure is needed.
Solid lines indicate the properties of conventional concrete.
Dotted lines indicate the desired properties of a nonconventional concrete.