A deep five-level underground concrete foundation to support a 45-storey condo that is currently being built in downtown Toronto is using an innovative method to relieve shear pressure. That is, rather than employing the traditional ‘rebar stirrup’ method to strength the foundation walls against shear forces, which is…
Naturally, precasters spend a large amount of their time working to understand the chosen materials that go into their concrete mix designs. But how important is the order to which they choose to introduce these various components into the mix? Also known as sequencing, the order that they…
What to do with Captured Carbon?With concrete being the second most consumed substance on earth (next to water), it is no secret that the concrete industry is one of the leading sources for carbon dioxide emissions, creating as much as 5 per cent of worldwide man-made emissions of…
With concrete being the second most consumed substance on earth (next to water), , it is no secret that the concrete industry is one of the leading sources for carbon dioxide emissions, creating as much as 5 per cent of worldwide man-made emissions of the gas. The production…
SmartRock® Plus is the new, branded, concrete mix solution designed to help concrete producers improve their bottom line. Ready mix companies are signing up for SmartRock® Plus and its unique real-time strength reporting to differentiate, decommoditize, delight customers, demonstrate technological strength, and deliver profits. How? Get Your First…
Australia is currently working on a large-scale infrastructure project known as the Sydney Metre Job. Unfortunately, a key component of Australia’s biggest public transport infrastructure project has recently been the subject to a critical technical report that describes an elevated viaduct span fail located at a stitch joint…
A number of articles have recently been published on the various applications and benefits of using light-weight concrete. Lightweight concrete is characterized by concrete whose density is lower than that of normal concrete which has a density of approximately 2200 kg/m3 or 140 lb/ft3 and carries with it…
Gaza, a small self-governing Palestinian territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, is no stranger to war. Over the past 10 years, Gaza has experienced three conflicts that had left the territory in shambles. The aftermath of the last Gaza war left in its wake…
Early last week it was reported that massive sections of corroded concrete led to the closure of the Oroville, California dam. Unfortunately, millions of gallons of rushing water have continued to pound against the Lake Oroville Dam spillway which has now forced more than 100,000 people from their…
In early November of 2016, news broke that one of the United States’ most luxurious residential towers are sinking and tilting – which has led to residents filing lawsuits against the city of San Francisco. Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit According to…
The largest concrete surface in Michigan is the I-75 Rouge River Bridge, and as it is now scheduled to be replaced, Metro Detroit is looking at one of the biggest freeway closures to have taken place in recent years. The closure, which will stretch between Detroit and Downriver,…
Concrete is a highly regarded building material in large part due to its inherent strength and durability – something that was first recognized by the Ancient Romans thousands of years ago. What stands the Ancient Roman concrete apart from today’s concrete though, is the fact that we rely…
The current outbreak the mountain pine beetle and its microbial associates, native to the forests of western North America from Mexico to central British Columbia has destroyed wide areas of lodgepole pine forest, including more than 16 million of the 55 million hectares of forest in British Columbia….
With concrete being one of the most popular construction materials used by engineers and professionals worldwide, it is easy to assume that this widespread material, so seemingly pedestrian, must be straightforward and singular, with no hidden secrets. However, the reality of the matter is that making it requires…
Seismologists are predicting a one-in-three probability of a catastrophic earthquake with a very high likelihood for a subsequent tsunami to hit the coast of the Pacific Northwest within the next 50 years. With the majority of the coast wholly unprepared, a few places are taking steps to prepare…
Though concrete is known to be a material which has high fire-resistance, its physical, chemical and mechanical properties do endure severe changes when subjected to high temperatures – particularly with temperatures over 300 degrees Celsius. Fire is actually one of the most serious potential risks to concrete structures…
Have you ever had the fear that we are under the threat of an EMP attack that will knock out all electronics – spiralling the world into apocalyptic chaos? Well, thanks to the work of University of Nebraska engineers Christopher Tuan and Lim Nguyen, such worries of our…
Around the globe one of the biggest collective concerns is that of pollution. With the heat on them due to the increased amounts of CO2 entering the air from production facilities and energy sourcing, engineers are now looking to come up with creative solutions to battle it. Get…
