Net zero concrete
Climate change is already affecting everything from wildfires to coral reefs. To combat climate change, the cement industry has announced its 2050 Carbon Ambition, pledging to produce carbon-neutral concrete by […]
Insights
The Responsible Minerals Initiative promotes ethical sourcing
For their senior design projects, engineering students at the University of St. Thomas analyze the ethical factors in accordance with the ABET criteria for student outcomes. These include “an ability to […]
Background on ASTM C1866
We’ve previously discussed a new standard that promotes sustainability through the use of ground recycled glass in concrete. Now let’s get some background on ASTM C1866.* Most glass falls into […]
“Classic” alkali-silica reaction
“Classic” alkali-silica reaction is a reaction between alkalis in cement and reactive silicate minerals in susceptible aggregates. The reaction creates a gel that absorbs water and expands, resulting in the […]
Thanksgiving 2020, whether we gather together or not
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Thanksgiving 2020 will look very different from normal. Most of us will have a much smaller gathering than we usually do. One thing that probably […]
Shotcrete Q & A
Q: What is shotcrete and when would I use it? A: Shotcrete is concrete and refers to the method of placing it using a high-velocity spray onto a receiving surface. […]
Lies, damned lies and statistics
Statistics were part of our everyday lives long before anyone had heard of COVID-19. Pick up a newspaper any day of the week and see how many stories you find […]
Green stormwater infrastructure
With increasing urban development and a changing climate, city governments need to consider new ways to manage stormwater. “It’s not easy being green,” a recent paper from the University of […]
What you need to know about CALGreen
The 2019 edition of the California Green Building Standards Code, also known as CALGreen, took effect at the beginning of this year. Its goals include: reducing greenhouse gas emissions from […]
Floor flatness and levelness
Floor flatness and levelness matter in such applications as manufacturing facilities, big box stores, and warehouses. ACI PRC-117.1R-14 defines floor flatness (Ff) as “deviation of a surface from a plane” […]