Concrete testing is essential for all construction projects. Testing, in general, is a very lengthy and costly process. Traditional methods of concrete testing require additional time to set up equipment, often resulting in delays. However, Giatec’s SmartRock™ maturity sensors offer a simple solution and a new modern approach…
Cement is a binding material that has contributed to the creation of historical monuments, but as we shift from 3000 BC into the twenty-first century, we can see the multitude of ways in which cement is being used. Today, the main ingredient in concrete is Portland cement, which…
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….
If you are in the concrete industry, conferences such as World of Concrete (WOC), ConExpo, and American Concrete Institute’s ACI Concrete Convention make for important dates in your calendar. They certainly are in ours. The lights and splendor of the Las Vegas WOC 2020 (held February 3-7) etched…
Corrosion of Steel in Concrete Corrosion is initiated when materials that are harmful to steel, such as CO2 and chloride from de-icing salt, start to penetrate concrete and reach the steel reinforcement. As an electrochemical reaction, electrons migrate from the anodic zone to the cathodic zone, releasing ferrous…
Giatec would like to congratulate Karthik Obla, Rongjin Hong, and Stuart Sherman of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and Dale P. Bentz and Scott Z. Jones, members of the National Institute of Standards and Technology for receiving ASTM International’s Advances in Civil Engineering Materials’ Outstanding Article Award…
SmartRock™ Plus is the next level in branded concrete mix design, helping ready-mix producers differentiate their company, and mixes, within their local markets. However, this service doesn’t just help producers, it also helps contractors and field personnel eliminate the need for field-cured break tests, and saving valuable time in their schedules with using pre-calibrated mixes….
Since its commercial takeoff in the last three decades, the use of maturity sensors has historically been driven by contractors. In deploying this testing method on their jobsite, contractors get real-time temperature and strength data directly on their mobile devices, allowing them to make quick decisions. Before the…
A concrete mix is a combination of five major elements in various proportions: cement, water, coarse aggregates, fine aggregates (i.e. sand), and air. Additional elements such as pozzolanic materials and chemical admixtures can also be incorporated into the mix to give it certain desirable properties. While a concrete…
A shortage of skilled labor continues to be the dominate issue in the construction industry, and rightfully so. However, delays in construction schedules have always been a thorn in the side of contractors, and history shows that probably won’t change. The success of any construction project—single family home,…
The fast-paced environment of the construction industry results in a constant search for better and more efficient ways to evaluate the quality of concrete. Despite this increase in state-of-the-art knowledge regarding concrete research, current industry practices still rely on compressive strength testing to measure concrete quality. Results of…
On any job site, the strength of a concrete pour is a critical piece of information. Concrete cylinder breaks have been the pillar for compression strength testing in the construction industry for more than 180 years (Concrete Network). How are Concrete Cylinder Break Tests Done in Third-party Labs?…
