American engineer, pioneer in the rheology of cements (1880–1965)
Duff A. Abrams (1880,
Illinois, – 1965,
New York) was an American researcher in the field of composition and properties of
concrete. He developed the basic methods for testing concrete characteristics still in use today. A
professor with the
Lewis Institute, he studied the component materials of concrete in the early 20th century.
In a comprehensive research program, Abrams established the relationship between the water-cement ratio and the
compressive strength of concrete. The results were first published in 1918 in D. A. Abrams, Design of Concrete Mixtures, Bulletin 1, Structural Materials Research Laboratory, Lewis Institute, Chicago, 1918.
1918 – Design of Concrete Mixtures (The effect of the water content and the grain size and grain size distribution on the compressive strength of concrete. Test methods for the water-cement ratio and fineness modulus).
1919 – Effect of Curing Condition on Wear and Strength of Concrete (Describing 120 tests on cylinder-shaped samples and 300 tests on cubic samples in various moisture conditions and testing periods varying from 3 days to 4 months).
1919 – Effect of Fineness of Cement on Plasticity and Strength of Concrete (Experimental research on the effect of the fineness of concrete and various types of additives on plasticity and strength).
1920 – Effect of Hydrated Lime and Other Powdered Admixtures in Concrete
1920 – Effect of Storage of Cement (Investigation of storage conditions for periods up to 5 years).
1920 – Effect of Tannic Acid on Strength of Concrete
1921 – Quantities of Materials for Concrete, D. A. Abrams en Stanton Walker (Recipes for concrete reporting its strength after 28 days of curing ranging from 2000 to 4000
psi).
1922 – Flexural Strength of Plain Concrete (Relationship between flexural strength and compressive strength)