Sarah McGuire, Author at Giatec Scientific Inc.

MCI-2020 Can Extend the Service Life of Concrete Structures

Sarah McGuire June 9, 2016

MCI 2020 is an organic, surface applied, migrating corrosion inhibitor designed to penetrate through cementitious materials including concrete, mortar, and limestone. It travels in both liquid and vapor (gas) phases through the pore structure, forming a protective, molecular layer on embedded reinforcement and allowing for the substance to diffuse as vapors. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote MCI 2020 provides strong corrosion protection against carbonation, chlorides, and other contaminants and will migrate independent of orientation (horizontal, vertical or overhead up to eight centimeters (three inches) in 30 days. Water based, non-flammable MCI 2020 offers engineers, owners, contractors, DOTs, and other government agencies a time proven, corrosion inhibiting technology that will significantly extend the service life of their reinforced concrete structures….

Bone and Shells as Blueprints for Stronger Concrete

Sarah McGuire June 7, 2016

In the journal Construction and Building Materials, a paper was published contrasting cement paste with the structure and properties of natural materials such as bones, shells, and deep-sea sponges. Researchers noticed that the biological compounds are durable and strong due to the fact that they are structured with multiple length scales visible level. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote Oral Buyukozturk, a professor in MIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), proposed a new bioinspired, “bottom-up” approach for designing cement paste. “These materials are assembled in a fascinating fashion, with simple constituents arranging in complex geometric configurations that are beautiful to observe,” Buyukozturk says. “We want to see what kinds of micromechanisms exist within them that provide such superior…

Kryton International Awarded an U.S Patent

Sarah McGuire June 3, 2016

Called a Method, Apparatus and System for Testing the Self-Sealing Capabilities of a Concrete Sample, the test measures and verifies the self-sealing properties of concrete to which a mix of specialty chemicals has been added. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote According to Kevin Yuers, Vice President at Kryton one of the inventors of the test “The test is important because it validates in the lab the self-sealing properties of concrete with a Kryton admixture. We had known from work in the field that the waterproofing admixture in our products enabled cracks to self-seal, but we also wanted to prove it in the lab.” Concrete that can self-seal developing cracks can lead to the reduction of long-term maintenance and repair…

Upgrading the Panama Canal

Sarah McGuire June 2, 2016

After being up and running for the last 99 years, one of the most impressive engineering structure, will be getting an upgraded. The Panama Canal will be improved to cater for the increasing size of the world’s merchant shipping feet. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote As of today the third set of expanded locks are in full operation and are ready to accommodate their first ships. The Panama Canal is on track to be completed in late June of this year. For information about the expansion of the Panama Canal click the link below. http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2016-06-01/panama-canals-new-expanded-locks-at-full-operability

Muskrat Falls Megaproject Concrete Collapse

Sarah McGuire May 30, 2016

According to Gilbert Bennett Nalcor Energy’s vice-president, Nalcor Energy will “ensure a full safety investigation is completed and that the contractor and its workers implement all safety recommendations that might be identified following this incident.” Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote NDP Leader Earle McCurdy stated that serious procedural issues at Muskrat Falls need to be resolved. Especially in light of the accident that occurred overnight, which caused workers to be briefly covered in wet concrete. Seven workers received first aid treatment at the site in Labrador when formwork gave way, sending wet concrete pouring out. “It was a major incident. This is not just a kind of well somebody got banged up a little bit and had to get…

The Crumbling Infrastructure in America

Sarah McGuire May 27, 2016

The majority of the United States’ largest infrastructure projects were built in the 19th and the 20th century. The USA was once in the headlines for having the most advanced public infrastructure systems on earth. Those headlines have changed and the country needs an upgraded system to match the 21st century. The age of structures is one cause but there are also two other factors that have created the current state of the country’s infrastructure. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote For more information click the link below. http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/25/politics/infrastructure-roads-bridges-airports-railroads/

Fire and Explosion Proof Concrete Created by CEMEX

Sarah McGuire May 25, 2016

CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (“CEMEX”) (NYSE: CX) announced on May 4th 2016 that CEMEX Mexico developed a fire- and explosion-resistant concrete. The company designed this solution specifically to safeguard the Data Processing Center, Proyecto Q, of the Santander Group. Located in Queretaro, Mexico, Proyecto Q is the Santander Group’s most technologically intensive and energy-efficient data processing center in the world. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote When a gas station was built 20 meters away from Proyecto Q’s façade, the Santander Group carried out a risk analysis and concluded that its facilities were vulnerable to the effects of potential thermal radiation (fire) and overpressure (explosion). The Santander Group turned to CEMEX for the design and construction of a perimeter wall…

Dubai Inaugurates First 3D Printed Office Building

Sarah McGuire May 24, 2016

On hearing mention of Dubai, most of us envision celebrated and extravagant lifestyles featuring piles of gold and private jets, lavish spreads of wealth, and unfathomable luxury, prominently on display for all to envy. This city, the most populated within the entire United Arab Emirates, is of course also a mega-hub for global business dealings—all of which translates to a love for the highest of the high-tech—much of which takes place in beautifully appointed offices and surroundings. And their latest architectural feat, while perhaps not the biggest or most glamorous, is definitely going to wow you with a glimpse into the future of construction—at least for Dubai. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote While the concept of 3D printed buildings…

Five Infrastructure Emergencies in the U.S.

Sarah McGuire May 17, 2016

Advocates for investing in the nation’s infrastructure are hesitant to single out certain projects as deserving priority over others, arguing that sustained funding and attention is needed equally across the board. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote But there are some crumbling structures threatening both the economy and public safety that are just too urgent not to point out. Here are five transportation projects around the country that experts believe are in dire need of repair. The Brent Spence Bridge Connecting Cincinnati and Covington, Ky., the Brent Spence Bridge carries a busy stretch of interstate highway across the Ohio River that is responsible for moving 4 percent of gross national product. The 53-year-old structure was only designed to carry 80,000…

The Private Sector Can Improve Our Crumbling Infrastructure

Sarah McGuire May 16, 2016

Douglas L. Peterson is President and CEO of S&P Global and Susan Story is President and CEO of American Water. They are co-chairs of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Executive Council on Infrastructure. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote It’s time to break the status quo America was built on the spirit of pioneering, entrepreneurialism, and innovation. Decades ago, these trailblazers created an unparalleled system of highways, mass transit, ports, railroads and waterways. They moved people and goods from New York to Miami, created jobs and new cities, and allowed commerce and industries to grow across the United States. Today, that infrastructure has outlived its useful life and become unsafe, unusable, and inefficient. Yet the resources seem elusive to solve such…

Record Demand at Bauma 2016

Sarah McGuire April 27, 2016

Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote • 3,423 exhibitors from 58 countries • Approx. 580,000 visitors from 200 countries • Higher than expected order activity A seven-day show of superlatives at Bauma attracted around 580,000 visitors from 200 countries to Munich between April 11 and 17. That’s a rise of more than nine percent. After Germany, the top ten countries of origin among the visitors were Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, UK, Sweden, the Russian Federation, Poland and the Czech Republic. A total of 3,423 exhibitors—1,263 from Germany and 2,160 from abroad—from 58 countries presented their products, developments and innovations on a record 605,000 square meters of exhibition space. Exhibitors from outside Germany accounted for 63 percent of the…

bauma Innovation Awards

Sarah McGuire April 11, 2016

Six companies and research institutions were with the bauma Innovation Award during a festive ceremony held on April 10 in the church Allerheiligenhofkirche in Munich. The award is presented as part of the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment. bauma is being held from April 11-17 at the trade fair site in Munich. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote The bauma Innovation Award is “a reflection of the innovativeness of the German and international construction, building material and mining machine industry,” Bavarian Economics Minister Ilse Aigner said in praising the award winners and all of the other companies that took part in the competition. “It serves not only as…

Giatec In Denmark

Sarah McGuire April 4, 2016

Giatec’s SmartRock sensors are continuing to get adopted internationally. With sensors sold in over 25 countries since launched in November 2015, we are looking forward to further extending our smart concrete testing technologies to clients worldwide. We have been able to achieve great and quick success with the help of Giatec partners around the world. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote Our Danish partners, Lolle & Nielsen have created a simple step by step demonstration on how to tag, connect, and use the SmartRock wireless sensors for temperature and maturity measurement. Although the video is in Danish, it is a great watch. If you are interested in working with us as an agent in your market for the SmartRock sensors…

Kolkata Overpass Collapse

Sarah McGuire March 31, 2016

On March 31st 2016, one of the largest cities in India, Kolkata, witnessed a massive overpass collapsed. The massive structure collapsed onto a busy intersection in the commercial district of the city. According to multiple media outlets at least 20 individuals have been killed and up to 150 others were trapped after the overpass collapsed.

Concrete Hub, the educational mobile app

Sarah McGuire March 31, 2016

Click on your smartphone’s app store and type in concrete, what do you find? Nothing but endless calculator apps to help determine the amount of premixed concrete needed for a particular project. Yet the concrete industry is much more complex and intricate for those who live it everyday and the team here at Giatec Scientific Inc. has launched an app that the industry has yet to utilise, the Concrete Hub. The application is entirely free of charge, so download it now and follow along as we introduce the first industry application to scavenge and compile all news in real time to be readily available at your fingertips. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote Created for engineering professionals and students, the…

Evolution of Bridge Inspection

Sarah McGuire August 7, 2015

A great article published by one of Giatec Scientific’s very own in this month’s issue of Concrete Engineering International associated with The UK Concrete Society. Click to read the full sized article! Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote

Giatec RCON2 Used to Study Concrete Cracks

Sarah McGuire July 10, 2015

We are happy here at Giatec to see the RCON2 being used at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey in such an interesting research investigation. Read more about Dr. Sahmaran’s work here. Title: Concrete Cracks Heal Themselves Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote In the human body, small wounds are easily treated by the body itself, requiring no further care. For bigger wounds to be healed, the body may need outside assistance. Concrete is like a living body, in that it can self-heal its own small wounds (cracks) as an intrinsic characteristic. However, cracks do not heal easily in conventional concrete due to its rather brittle nature, which calls into question the effectiveness of self-healing in conventional concrete materials with no…

Quite a haul: Lima concrete firm takes on massive project

Sarah McGuire July 9, 2015

They look like huge grey anchors and have been getting lots of looks recently on area highways. Big Projects Deserve Better Protection Keep mega pours safe from cold-weather risks. Real-time insights, up to 1,000 ft away with SmartRock® Long Range Request a Quote Nearly 1,000 massive and oddly shaped concrete forms called dolosse are being sent out one at a time from a precast concrete manufacturer in Lima, Livingston County, through Monroe County and down Route 104 for a project at the Port of Oswego. “We were eating lunch at the local diner here in Lima and there were people at the windows,” said Todd Clarke, president of Lakelands Concrete Products, Inc. “We’ve been making them for a while, but nobody really knows about them.” The $4 million job is the largest project ever for 64-year-old, family-run Lakelands, which has…

Sarah McGuire