A Treatise on the Inspection of Concrete Construction by Jerome Cochran is a substantial historical reference for inspectors, superintendents and others engaged in public and private construction work. Myron C. Clark Publishing Company issued this Chicago volume with a 1913 copyright. The preface is dated Detroit, Michigan, January 1913.
Following the work through inspection
Cochran presents the book as a collection of rules and directions for concrete construction, supported by explanations of their reasons. He emphasizes arrangement for reference, bringing related matters together and using separate subdivisions to make a large subject easier to consult.
The introduction addresses the inspection of concrete construction, duties of the inspector, erection of reinforced-concrete buildings and failures in concrete structures. It establishes inspection as a continuing responsibility through the work, rather than a single examination at completion.
This perspective is valuable for readers studying historic construction administration. The book records what an early twentieth-century author expected an inspector to observe and understand. It also connects workmanship with the handling of materials, temporary works and the sequence of operations.
Cement, aggregates and water
The first chapter treats hydraulic cement, including classification, delivery, storage, inspection and tests. It distinguishes field, laboratory and mill inspection and discusses the significance of several test results. Portland, natural and other cement classes appear in the contents.
Sand, stone and miscellaneous concrete materials occupy the next chapter. Sampling, impurities, preparation and material properties are considered alongside water for concrete. The inspector’s attention therefore begins before the ingredients are combined.
For a construction-history collection, these sections help explain the material descriptions found in old specifications and records. Their testing methods and acceptance values belong to their period and require interpretation alongside the conditions under which they were used.
Proportioning, measuring and mixing
The proportioning chapter includes several approaches to choosing a mixture, followed by measuring and estimating ingredients. It then considers mixing by hand and machine, cement-mixing plants, mixing time, wet and dry consistency and water quantity.
The arrangement makes the connection between a stated mixture and the means used to produce it. Specifying ingredients alone does not describe their measurement, handling or incorporation. Those operations are part of what the book asks an inspector to consider.
Readers comparing period construction methods will find the practical detail useful. The text is evidence of historical practice, not a current mixture design or a substitute for contemporary material testing.
Forms, temporary support and reinforcement
A separate chapter covers forms, molds, centering and falsework. It addresses lumber, fabrication, erection, cleaning, lubrication and removal. Beam, slab, wall and column forms are distinguished, reflecting their different construction arrangements.
Steel reinforcement follows, with delivery, storage, inspection and placement. The contents separate general requirements from column, beam, slab, wall and miscellaneous reinforcement. This lets a reader trace the work from delivered material to its position in a member.
These sections are especially relevant to research on how structures were actually built. Temporary support and the order of removing forms can be as important to understanding the historical process as the finished section shown on a drawing.
Placing, protection and surface treatment
The concreting chapter includes transport, placing, puddling and ramming, stopping work, construction joints, protection after placing and patching defects. It also treats high temperatures, freezing weather, rubble concrete, chutes, underwater work and grouting.
Surface finishes and waterproofing each receive further attention. Sidewalks, curbs and pavement construction lead into concrete products, including ornamental work, building blocks, tile, poles and sewer pipe. The final chapter concerns concrete piles.
Audience and scan
This free ebook suits building historians, conservation researchers and technically prepared readers studying construction supervision. Its breadth makes it a useful record of inspection concerns across many forms of concrete work. Present-day inspections and structural decisions require current standards and appropriate professional judgment.
The PDF contains 612 digital pages, including preliminary material and an index. It is an image-based scan. Enlarge small print, tables and diagrams when checking a detail, and distinguish the digital page position from the original printed page number.
Book details
- Author: Jerome Cochran
- Publisher: Myron C. Clark Publishing Company, Chicago
- Year: 1913
- Edition: No numbered edition stated; preface dated January 1913
- Digital length: 612 PDF pages
- Language: English
- File size: 19.69 MB
