An image of the hydrated cement microstructure was taken with a back-scattered electron microscope. The microstructure is simulated in the software discussed. Introduction The research conducted explored the use of computer models and simulations to accurately predict the development of strength in concrete over time. The purpose of…
The other day a colleague sent me an article (Business Insider, 2017) on the new SpaceX-funded Boring Tunnel by Elon Musk. By the end of the 2nd sentence, MY MIND WAS BLOWN. ELON MUSK YOU MUST READ THIS ARTICLE! I’ll summarize the Business Insider article for all other…
Self-Consolidating Concrete — Made Possible by Polycarboxylate-Comb Polymer type High Range Water Reducers Abstract A Polycarboxylate-comb polymer is used in the concrete industry as a water reducer for concrete mixture design. The PCP deflocculates aggregates of cement particles that entrap water. This aggregation reduces concrete fluidity in the fresh state and strengthens…
What is the APL? Working in the construction industry you may have heard the term APL. But what is the APL? The APL is the Approved Product List (called the Qualified Product List/QPL in some states) utilized by state Department of Transportation (DOT) to expedite the product selection…
What is soft water attack on Concrete? Soft water attack concrete is considered to occur in areas where the water immediately adjacent to a concrete structure or concrete infrastructure (flowing or standing) is characterized by a low dissolved ion content. When Portland cement-based concrete is in contact with…
What is the Internet of Things? The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming a more popular topic as we keep improving technologically. But what is the IoT? Basically, the concept of IoT is connecting any physical device to the internet, and therefore, to each other. This creates a…
Introduction Concrete is one of the oldest and most reliable construction materials in the world. Concrete is at the foundation of our civilizations providing everything from the sidewalks in urban, suburban, and rural areas to the enormous concrete dams, like the Hoover Dam. The purpose of this article…
The Hydration of Cement in Concrete Concrete has been considered a multi-scale material dating back to its first use and documentation in the catalogs of Egyptian and Roman histories. The strength and durability of concrete are reliant not only on the heterogeneous nature of the macro-composite but more…
The use of colloidal silica in cement composites stretches back to work done by the US Army Corp of Engineers back in the early 2000 (Green 2004, 2012). Through wide spread use of the last decade, both the academic arena and construction industry have found that colloidal silica…
We’re sitting in the laboratory and we can smell smoke. Wildfires are raging in Colorado and although we are south of Denver and the fires are, 45 to 60 miles away, we still see and smell the smoke. I drove through the Black Forest about a week ago and…