Cement

Video: How long should highway construction actually take? Piezoelectric sensors may offer more precise answer

By Lisa McDonald / September 11, 2019

Highway construction can take longer than is necessary if cars drive on the concrete before it has fully matured. Purdue University researchers are working with the Indiana Department of Transportation to test piezoelectric sensors that measure concrete strength.

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Video: Camels provide beauty, milk—and alternative fuel for cement production

By Lisa McDonald / August 14, 2019

In Ras al-Khaimah, the northernmost emirate of the United Arab Emirates, the government’s waste management agency is running a program to divert waste from landfills. Part of that program includes using camel excrement as fuel in cement production.

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Water to the rescue: Hydrodemolition ideal method for repairing crumbling concrete

By Lisa McDonald / July 19, 2019

United States’ infrastructure is in dire need of repair. Hydrodemolition is an ideal method for concrete reconstruction. Learn about hydrodemolition history, advantages of the technique, and what to consider before choosing it for your project.

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Breakout sessions, awards, student events highlight successful Cements 2019

By Erica Zimmerman / July 12, 2019

The 10th Advances in Cement-Based Materials meeting, which took place June 16–18 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, featured a variety of events, including a SEM workshop and the Della Roy Lecture.

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Video: The physics of exploding concrete

By Lisa McDonald / May 15, 2019

What causes explosive spalling of concrete? Researchers from Empa, the University of Grenoble, and the Institut Laue-Langevin performed neutron tomography on exploding concrete cubes to find out.

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Video: Build and race a concrete canoe

By Lisa McDonald / April 24, 2019

Since 1988, the American Society of Civil Engineers has held an annual concrete canoe competition for student members. Take a look at the design process ASCE students undertake to create their canoes.

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Detecting damage in concrete structures: Tubular smart aggregates hold advantage over patch-based and spherical sensors

By Lisa McDonald / April 9, 2019

In a recent study, researchers proposed a tubular design for smart aggregates that can monitor structural health of concrete structures, a design that could overcome limitations faced by patch-based and spherical sensors.

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From toilet to pipeline: Sanitary ware ceramics could serve all sewage needs

By Lisa McDonald / January 25, 2019

What happens to sanitary ware ceramics after their life as a toilet comes to an end? According to new research, these ceramics could be recycled for another useful purpose—as aggregate for concrete.

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Video: Microcapsules help concrete heal itself

By Lisa McDonald / January 9, 2019

Self-healing concrete can be made several ways. Researchers at University of Cambridge developed a method that involves mineral healing agents—delivered via microcapsules.

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Video: 3D-knitted textile replaces conventional formwork on KnitCandela project

By Faye Oney / December 5, 2018

Researchers 3D-knitted a formwork structure that would replace traditional formwork with a knitted textile. The technology simplifies the construction process and saves time and money in materials and labor.

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