The Responsibilities Of The Engineer Or Other Professionals – Basic Procedure For Investigations—Litigation Not – Involved – Procedure When Litigation Is Contemplated – The Engineer As An Expert Witness – The Preparation Of Specifications – The Contract Documents – Invitations To Tender – Insurancebacked Guarantees And Warrantees – National And European Standards And Codes Of Practice – Health And Safety Regulations And Product Specification – Definitions – References – Further Reading – Basic Characteristics Of Concrete And Mortar And Their – Constituent And Associated Materials – Introduction – Constituent Materials – Portland Cements – The Action Of Acids On Portland Cement – Solutions Of Sulphates And Their Effect On – Portland Cement – The Effect Of Solutions Of Chlorides On – Portland Cement – High Alumina Cements (Hac) – Corrosionresistant Cement – Aggregates From Natural Sources For Concrete And – Mortar – Admixtures – Accelerators – Set Retarders – Waterreducing Admixtures/Workability – Aids/Plasticizers – Superplasticizing Admixtures – Air Entraining Admixtures – Pigments – Additions – Pulverized Fuel Ash (Pfa) – Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag (Ggbs) – Condensed Silica Fume – Polymers .