RECOMMENDED READING PATHS

For readers with no prior knowledge of experimental design and RSM Reading several chapters in the text books of Box et al. [14] is a good introduction. After that, the introduction in experimental design and RSM methodology of Chapter 2 can be read and an overview is also given in Chapter 3. 

For readers with no prior knowledge of optimization methods In the textbook of Box et.al. [14] the basic principles of optimization are also explained. The sequential simplex method is presented in Walters et.al. [20]. Multi-criteria optimization is presented in Chapter 4 on an introductory level. For those readers who want to know more about multicriteria optimization, see the references given in Section 1.3.4 and Chapter 4. 

For readers with no prior knowledge of the Taguchi method The Taguchi method is explained to some extent in Chapter 4. A general introduction is given in [11-13]. For detailed discussions, see the references given in Chapter 4 and Section 1.3.1. 

For readers with some knowledge of experimental design and RSM Start with reading Chapters 2 and 3, this will fi-esh up your memory. 

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Some of the AP recommended experiments require the use of a spectrophotometer. A spectrophotometer is an instrument that is used to measure the amount of light absorbed (or percentage transmitted) by a particular solute in a solution. In order to determine the absorbance (A) of a sample, the instrument is set to a particular wavelength a solution, contained in a holder called a cuvette, is placed in a sample chamber and an absorbance reading is taken. This procedure may be repeated for other solutions or wavelengths. The cuvette is a standard size to ensure a given path length (b). 

If necessary wet the whole area to ensure good electrical contact. Alternatively wet the immediate area of the measurement. Tap water, soap solution and even saline solutions have been recommended for wetting. The author prefers tap water (for a reading to be made charged ions must flow from the steel to the half cell the concrete must therefore be damp enough for an ionic path direct contact to the steel must not occur, the current must flow as ions, not electrons). 

A spectrophotometer or a filter photometer at or close to 670 nm is used for the determination. Cuvettes with path lengths of 0.5,1,5 and 10 cm are used depending on the intensity of the colour development. Automatic piston pipettes adjusted to a volume of 0.5 mL are recommended for adding reagents. The absorbance readings should be recalculated according to the path length used for the calibration. 

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