Diagnosing ASR
Alkali-silica reaction is a common deterioration mechanism in concrete. Some silicate minerals in aggregates react with hydroxide ions in concrete pore water, forming a gel that imbibes water and swells. […]
Author: Rachel Detwiler
Rendering an engineering opinion
To protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, states regulate the engineering profession. We’ve discussed previously what it takes to obtain a license as a Professional Engineer. Public […]
What makes a good explanation?
One summer I visited some Norwegian friends who lived near Stockholm. The husband and their two-year-old son took me to the airport for my return flight. There, Håkon eagerly explored under […]
“Good enough” is best
Advertising for luxury cars and watches would lead you to believe that a never-ending quest for perfection is a good thing. But in real life, perfectionism can only lead to […]
Low-carbon concrete placed at UW Stout
Dr. Kevin MacDonald’s students at the University of Wisconsin Stout placed an experimental low-carbon concrete sidewalk on their campus. The concrete used no portland cement, which generates nearly a ton […]
Sustaining the commons
We’ve discussed the tragedy of the commons, an economic theory that dates back to Aristotle: “What is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it.” It […]
Horses, not zebras
“When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.”—Theodore Woodward, University of Maryland School of Medicine Although this advice originated in medicine, it applies equally well to forensic engineering: Look for […]
What engineers should know about acceptance testing
At the ACI spring convention, the Hot Topic session focused on acceptance testing of concrete. Someone pointed out that we’ve been having the same discussion for the last 40 years. […]
Choose your battles
For 19 years I had an orange tabby, known formally as Fridtjof den dristige*, who defended our territory as only an orange tabby can. Orange tabbies have a reputation as […]