Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures--the guide to applications, methods, and materials, has been the industry’s primary reference on concrete technology for over 90 years. The fully revised 16th edition published in 2016 by the Portland Cement Association (PCA) provides a concise, current reference on the fundamentals of concrete technology and construction.
Many advances have been made in concrete technology over the decades ranging from new materials and testing methods, to improved concrete properties and construction practices. Concrete construction today follows a mantra of quicker, stronger, more durable, more resilient, and more sustainable. That story is proudly displayed within the pages of this centennial edition of Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures.
The 16th edition provides a concise, current reference on concrete, including the many advances that occurred since the last edition. Besides presenting a 30 percent increase in new information, this edition has new chapters on concrete pavements and structures illustrating where concrete meets the needs of modern society.
The book is backed by 100 years of research by the Portland Cement Association. It reflects the latest information on standards, specifications, and test methods of ASTM International (ASTM), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the American Concrete Institute (ACI).
Each new edition reflects advances in concrete technology and the need to meet the growing needs of owners, architects, engineers, builders, concrete producers, concrete technologists, instructors, and students. Over 3 million copies of past editions of the book were distributed, making the book a primary reference on concrete technology.
Preface and Acknowledgements
Foreword by PCA Product Standards and Technology Committee
Chapter 1 Introduction to Concrete
Chapter 2 Paving
Chapter 3 Structures
Chapter 4 Sustainability
Chapter 5 Portland, Blended and Other Hydraulic Cement
Chapter 6 Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Chapter 7 Mixing Water for Concrete
Chapter 8 Aggregates for Concrete
Chapter 9 Chemical Admixtures for Concrete
Chapter 10 Fibers
Chapter 11 Reinforcement
Chapter 12 Properties of Concrete
Chapter 13 Volume Changes of Concrete
Chapter 14 Durability
Chapter 15 Specifying, Designing and Proportioning
Chapter 16 Batching, Mixing, Transporting, and Handling Concrete
Chapter 17 Placing and Finishing Concrete
Chapter 18 Curing Concrete
Chapter 19 Hot Weather Concreting
Chapter 20 Cold Weather Concreting
Chapter 21 Test Methods
Chapter 22 High-Performance Concrete
Appendix
You can purchase it new or professionally Highlighted & Tabbed for your exam.
Why Most Highlighted & Tabbed Books Fall Short?
Many contractor exam prep schools sell highlighted and tabbed books. Only one created the system—and perfected it through real-world use. That system was created by Rob Estell, a licensed contractor, President, and Founder.
Open-book contractor exams don’t test how much you know. They test how quickly you can locate the correct answer inside dense reference manuals. Rob learned this firsthand by taking exams himself and later confirmed it through years of feedback from thousands of exam candidates.
While other schools offer highlighted and tabbed books, most:
- Use minimal or generic highlights
- Rely heavily on the existing Table of Contents and Index
- Miss exam-tested material that isn’t clearly referenced
- Provide tabs that point to broad sections, not precise answers
The result? Students still waste time searching.
Rob decided that “good enough” wasn’t good enough.
Why The Exam Pros ORIGINAL, detailed-driven highlighted and tabbed books? Thousands of contractors have passed their exams using Rob Estell’s highlighted and tabbed books because they solve the real problem:
- Knowing the answer
- But not being able to find it fast enough
Built from Contractor Experience & Student Feedback
Rob Estell’s system is built using:
- His own experience as a licensed contractor
- Personal exam feedback from real testing environments
- Thousands of data points from exam students nationwide
A Proven, Detail-Oriented Navigation System
Each book follows Rob’s proven 3-step method:
- Table of Contents – Identify the general section
- Precision Tabs – Jump directly to the exact topic
- Strategic, Detailed Highlights – Land on the answer instantly
Our highlights are thorough and detail-oriented, guiding your eye exactly where exam answers are located—not just coloring pages for appearance.
- Every highlight is intentional.
- Every tab exists because the book failed to guide the reader quickly enough.
- If a topic cannot be found efficiently through the Table of Contents or Index, it gets a custom tab and targeted highlight.
These books are designed to help you outperform the clock, not just prepare!
