Do we expect too much from ASTM C1202?
We often — mistakenly — refer to ASTM C1202, “Standard Test Method for Electrical Indication of Concrete’s Ability to Resist Chloride Ion Penetration,” as the Rapid Chloride Permeability test. Permeability […]
Insights
2019-2020 ABET criteria for student outcomes
For would-be engineers, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) sets the standards for university education. University engineering departments seeking accreditation must demonstrate how they meet the ABET criteria. […]
Concrete petrography gives a grander view
Many engineers have no idea how informative concrete petrography can be. That’s too bad, because concrete petrography is one of the most useful techniques in forensic engineering. Failure analysis of […]
Write good engineering reports for clients
Many professionals struggle to write engineering reports for clients. Most engineering schools provide some instruction in report writing, but students’ reports tend to be formulaic and stilted. However, once students […]
Design for resilient infrastructure
While it may seem that natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe, it isn’t necessarily so. However, more people are moving to areas that are exposed to flooding, […]
Tables and figures in technical writing
In technical writing, it’s often necessary to include numerical data in graphical or tabular form. Good tables and figures in technical writing make complex information much easier for the reader […]
Agricultural concrete can be durable
Agricultural concrete must be durable because farm animals generate wastes that are acidic and contain sulfates, chlorides, and other salts. Between the animal wastes and the cleaning that keeps the […]
Help readers navigate long-form technical writing
Some reports are a few pages long, while others extend to 50 pages or longer. With long-form technical writing, most readers don’t have time to read the whole thing from […]
ASTM C1709 promotes sustainability
ASTM C1709 provides a way to introduce alternative supplementary cementitious materials (ASCMs) into the marketplace. Supplementary cementitious materials include fly ash, slag cement, silica fume, and calcined clay. They can […]
Buffenbarger article focuses on concrete’s environmental footprint
Beton’s Julie Buffenbarger wrote an article for the May 2019 issue of Gulf Construction magazine about factors that impact concrete’s environmental footprint. She asserts that it is imperative that the […]