Write an effective executive summary
For technical writers, the executive summary is one of the most challenging aspects of a report to a client. A good executive summary contains everything the busy executive needs to […]
Insights
Can you get a representative sample of concrete?
A representative sample of anything is an unbiased selection from the whole population. It’s a statistical concept that applies to everything from opinion polls to laboratory testing. In principle it […]
Make sure you take good concrete cores
We often receive concrete cores from our clients for petrography or other types of testing. When we haven’t witnessed the coring, we can’t always tell whether a core represents damaged […]
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 […]
Aggregate suspension mixture proportioning method makes for high performance concrete
Many people think of high performance concrete in terms of compressive strength. However, strength is not the only or even the most important design criterion. The concrete must be easy […]
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 […]
Beton and Primekss develop concrete for industrial concrete floors
Big box stores, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities need industrial concrete floors that are flat and level to accommodate forklift traffic and stacking of goods on pallets. Concrete slabs on ground […]
Concrete Failure Analysis is Complex
Concrete failure analysis is a complex process. That’s because engineering is a conservative profession. After all, who wants us to take unnecessary risks when public safety and millions of dollars […]
Beton can Help You Specify Durable Concrete
State DOTs want their bridges to have a service life of 75 years or longer, which means they need durable concrete. As a contractor, how can you be sure your […]
Balancing Risk in Cold Weather Concreting
The goal of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) 306 Guide to Cold Weather Concreting is to give guidance so that cold-weather concrete satisfies the performance requirements. The concrete industry rule […]