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, […]
Sustainability
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 […]
Predict service life with ASTM C1556
ASTM C1556 is a test we use to assess the ability of concrete to resist the ingress of chloride ions. If we’re designing concrete for a new parking garage or […]
Grout may immobilize radioactive wastes at Hanford
The Tri-City Herald reports that certain radioactive wastes at the Hanford site in Washington State may be treated by mixing them into cement-based grout. The radioactive wastes from the Manhattan […]
Design durable concrete structures
One way to make structures more sustainable is to make them durable. You can design your concrete for durability. You can also design and detail your concrete structure for durability. […]
Sustainability is fashionable
In addition to my work with Beton, I teach technical writing as part of a two-semester capstone course in the School of Engineering at the University of St. Thomas in […]
Buffenbarger receives ACI’s Concrete Sustainability Award
Beton’s Julie Buffenbarger is the recipient of the 2019 Concrete Sustainability Award from the American Concrete Institute (ACI). Buffenbarger received the award at the organization’s spring convention on March 24, […]
Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) helped make the St. Croix Crossing a case study in sustainability
The St. Croix Crossing received a Bridge Design Award of Excellence from the Portland Cement Association. The award is based on five criteria: structural design, function, aesthetics, sustainability and economics. Michelle […]