Sarah De Carufel, Author at Giatec Scientific Inc.

Monitoring Ambient Temperature: Why Environmental Variables Matter For Concrete Pours

Sarah De Carufel October 22, 2025

Concrete performance—especially at early ages—is highly sensitive to environmental conditions. While ambient temperature is the most recognized factor, wind speed and relative humidity also significantly impact hydration, evaporation, and the risk of plastic shrinkage and cracking. Proactive monitoring of ambient conditions enables both prevention and mitigation, helping contractors and producers maintain durability, avoid costly delays, and reduce quality disputes. In this blog, let’s learn how incorporating environmental data into quality control processes can be beneficial for managing risk and ensuring performance. Biggest SmartRock® Savings of the Year are Here! Save now and get free Giatec 360™ Premium access. Ends Dec 31. Don’t miss it! Claim Your Deal When to Start Monitoring Ambient Temperature Monitoring begins at the batch plant, where ambient conditions can impact the temperature and moisture of the raw materials. Understanding the ambient temperature while the concrete is…

Giatec’s SmartRock® Pro Sensor: The Latest Advancement in the Concrete Technology Industry

Sarah De Carufel August 15, 2023

If you are an engineer, construction professional, or contractor, you know how important it is to monitor the strength of your in-situ concrete. That is where SmartRock® Pro sensors come in. SmartRock Pro is a wireless sensor that calculates in-situ concrete strength in real-time, providing you with accurate and reliable data that you can use to optimize your construction process. In this blog, we will explore the key features of this new sensor and explore its potential to enhance efficiency, productivity, and the overall quality of your projects. Biggest SmartRock® Savings of the Year are Here! Save now and get free Giatec 360™ Premium access. Ends Dec 31. Don’t miss it! Claim Your Deal See how self-calibration will change your concrete projects here! Simple Installation When it comes to design, SmartRock Pro offers simplicity and flexibility. It is a truly wireless…

What Is the Half-Cell Potential Test?

Sarah De Carufel June 20, 2023

Corrosion is a natural process that occurs when a structure is exposed to elements like CO2 or chloride, which can penetrate the concrete all the way to the steel reinforcement. This can have serious durability and safety consequences, which is why it is important to monitor corrosion using an accurate and trusted method. The half-cell potential test is the only corrosion monitoring technique standardized in ASTM C876 – 15: Standard Test Method for Corrosion Potentials of Uncoated Reinforcing Steel in Concrete. It is used to determine the probability of corrosion within the rebar in reinforced concrete structures. This blog dives into the specifics of concrete corrosion, the half-cell potential measurement for testing concrete corrosion, and the ways in which the data from a half-cell potential device can be interpreted. Detect the Rate of Rebar Corrosion in Seconds Evaluate and measure…

SmartRock® Pro vs. SmartRock: What Are the Differences?

Sarah De Carufel March 29, 2023

Giatec has announced the release of its newest product, the SmartRock® Pro. This new sensor provides a superior solution for general contractors and producers to cut costs and save time. But, hows does it differ from the well-known SmartRock® wireless sensor? In this blog, let’s delve into the differences and similarities between these two innovative testing technologies.

Introducing Thermal Modeling: The New Giatec 360™ Feature to Predict the Maximum Temperature of Mass Concrete Elements

Sarah De Carufel November 14, 2022

Thermal Modeling is Giatec 360™’s first-of-its-kind new feature that can be used to predict concrete temperature in a mass concrete element. This helps to limit the potential of long-term and short-term cracking and increases the concrete’s quality and long-term durability.

Detect the Rate of Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete Structures in Seconds

Sarah De Carufel July 17, 2020

Corrosion is a natural process that begins when the steel rebar within reinforced concrete starts to rust. According to ACI, “corrosion occurs when the protective layer in concrete steel reinforcement is destroyed. Steel in concrete is usually protected against corrosion by the high pH of the surrounding portland-cement paste.” However, there are chemicals that can destroy the protective layer, making it susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion is very destructive to the lifespan and durability of your concrete structure. This is why it is crucial to regularly check for corrosion, which can be done with a corrosion detection sensor or a concrete corrosion test. Detect the Rate of Rebar Corrosion in Seconds Evaluate and measure corrosion in real time without drilling or damage using award-winning technology! Get fast, and accurate data straight to your device with iCOR®. Request a Quote How are…

Field-Cured vs. Standard-Cured Cylinders: How They Affect Concrete Performance

Sarah De Carufel June 2, 2020

How do Curing Methods Affect Concrete Field Performance? ASTM C31 is the standard that defines two different concrete curing conditions, standard curing and field curing. This standard dictates the procedures for making and curing test cylinders. At the same time, it can become a problem when an engineer or purchaser argues that field-cured test cylinders must be the basis of acceptance for a project and concrete field performance. Biggest SmartRock® Savings of the Year are Here! Save now and get free Giatec 360™ Premium access. Ends Dec 31. Don’t miss it! Claim Your Deal ASTM C31 section 10.1 defines standard curing as a condition that “involves subjecting the specimens to standard temperature and humidity conditions.” According to ASTM C511, these test specimens are generally stored in curing tanks or rooms at 23.0 ± 2°C and at a relative humidity (RH)…

Practical Installation Locations of Wireless Concrete Maturity Sensors

Sarah De Carufel April 27, 2020

The traditional way to determine whether a concrete element is strong enough for critical construction operation is to monitor concrete strength using field cured cylinders. Once the specimens have reached the desired strength, usually 75% of the mix design strength, the project can then move forward and it becomes safe to remove forms, post tension, open roads to traffic, etc. Biggest SmartRock® Savings of the Year are Here! Save now and get free Giatec 360™ Premium access. Ends Dec 31. Don’t miss it! Claim Your Deal When field cured cylinders are used, samples are made at a given interval during the pour and the specimens are all cured in a specific location and tested at a specified age. One cylinder break result is meant to represent the entire pour and provide the decision maker with the required information to move…

Faster Tilt-Up With Concrete Maturity Monitoring

Sarah De Carufel March 25, 2020

In the construction industry, innovations that reduce costs and speed up project completion are highly sought after—so it’s no wonder that we’re seeing a resurgence in the popularity of tilt-up construction. According to Tilt Wall Ontario Inc, over 10,000 buildings are constructed using the tilt-up method each year. Biggest SmartRock® Savings of the Year are Here! Save now and get free Giatec 360™ Premium access. Ends Dec 31. Don’t miss it! Claim Your Deal Invented in the early 1900s, tilt-up is a construction method in which large concrete elements are cast onsite and lifted into place by high-capacity mobile cranes. It has long been considered a viable approach for all kinds of everyday buildings and has recently gained a foothold within the architectural community as an innovative method to create interesting aesthetic form. Why Choose Tilt-Up? From design to well-beyond…

Reduce Delays on High Rise Construction Projects

Sarah De Carufel December 20, 2019

High rise buildings are a huge undertaking—no pun intended. In terms of scale, personnel, timelines, costs, scheduling, planning, and logistics—high rise construction projects are significant investments. Biggest SmartRock® Savings of the Year are Here! Save now and get free Giatec 360™ Premium access. Ends Dec 31. Don’t miss it! Claim Your Deal Each day on a jobsite including your crew, fuel, equipment, etc. can cost between ten and fifteen thousand dollars on average. Therefore, it’s absolutely crucial that you have a plan in place that limits setbacks and inefficiencies. If you’re reading this, you probably know that any construction project can encounter unexpected roadblocks—especially large scale projects like high rise buildings. According to McKinsey Global Institute “Large projects typically take 20% longer to finish than scheduled and are up to 80% over budget.” It’s beyond frustrating for project managers and…

Never Have a Low Break Again

Sarah De Carufel July 9, 2019

Never Have a Low Break Again One of the most frustrating setbacks that occurs on jobsites is low concrete breaks. It seems like they always happen at the worst time, when your schedule is already delayed and you are trying to move your project along as fast as possible. When testing your concrete for early-age strength, if the lab comes back to you with a psi/MPa that is lower than what is expected from your mix, you have very limited options moving forward, all of which require more time and money. Biggest SmartRock® Savings of the Year are Here! Save now and get free Giatec 360™ Premium access. Ends Dec 31. Don’t miss it! Claim Your Deal Request Pricing The Official Definition of a Low Concrete Cylinder Break Under ACI and CSA Standards, a break is considered to be of…

Calibrating Your Concrete Maturity Sensors in 5 Easy Steps

Sarah De Carufel July 9, 2019

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably getting ready to use wireless concrete maturity sensors, like SmartRock®, on your jobsite to monitor the strength of your in-situ slab. Keep reading to learn all about the concrete maturity calibration and how to apply it on site. Biggest SmartRock® Savings of the Year are Here! Save now and get free Giatec 360™ Premium access. Ends Dec 31. Don’t miss it! Claim Your Deal Here’s a Refresher on the Concrete Maturity Method The maturity method (ASTM C1074) is a non-destructive testing approach that allows you to estimate the early-age and compressive strength of in-place concrete in real-time. The technique is based on the principle that concrete strength is directly related to its hydration temperature history. Though this methodology has been used since the 1970s, it has only recently been gaining popularity on job…

Understanding Relative Humidity in Concrete

Sarah De Carufel April 6, 2019

During the construction of a concrete building, an essential step in the application of flooring is the importance of monitoring the relative humidity (RH), moisture levels, and the moisture evaporation rate of your slab. If your concrete contains excess moisture and high RH levels this can lead to disastrous flooring failures, resulting in costly repairs and liabilities. But what exactly is the difference between relative humidity and moisture and why should you care? Detect the Rate of Rebar Corrosion in Seconds Evaluate and measure corrosion in real time without drilling or damage using award-winning technology! Get fast, and accurate data straight to your device with iCOR®. Request a Quote Relative Humidity vs. Moisture Relative humidity (RH) is often mistaken for moisture; however, these terms measure two different characteristics of concrete. Moisture content represents the amount of water in liquid form,…

Importance of Initial Curing Conditions of Test Cylinders

Sarah De Carufel November 9, 2018

Why Curing Conditions for Test Cylinders is Important Acceptance testing for specified concrete strength is, and always has been, a necessary step in the construction industry. Nowadays, this process includes making cylinders or beams on site and bringing them to the lab for strength testing, followed by a step procedure which is outlined in ASTM C31/C31M. This standard outlines the test procedure for two types of cylinders (or beams); standard-cured and field-cured. Biggest SmartRock® Savings of the Year are Here! Save now and get free Giatec 360™ Premium access. Ends Dec 31. Don’t miss it! Claim Your Deal Both tests shouldn’t be confused with one another; the standard-cure provides acceptance for the concrete that was delivered, and the field-cured are used for estimation of the real-time strength of form removal, shoring, and road openings. In both cases, the steps to…

Use Maturity to Determine the Allowable Variation in Temperature

Sarah De Carufel December 7, 2017

Determining the Allowable Variation in Concrete Temperature with the Maturity Method Measuring the temperature differential in mass concrete elements is essential. Because of the mass effect, the concrete core can have a really high temperature while the surface, which is greatly affected by environmental conditions, tends to be cooler. If the difference in temperature between the core and the surface is too large, it can cause internal thermal stress. If the tensile strength of the concrete is not high enough to withstand the thermal stress it can create significant cracking. Biggest SmartRock® Savings of the Year are Here! Save now and get free Giatec 360™ Premium access. Ends Dec 31. Don’t miss it! Claim Your Deal The ACI 207- Mass Concrete guideline states that the difference in temperature between the center of the element and the surface must remain smaller…

Sarah De Carufel