In addition to the health impacts of Europe’s current record-setting heat waves and drought, the weather is leading more houses to experience structural damage as the underlying soil dries and contracts. Subsidence-related damages are a major problem for French homeowners, and insurers and the government have been in talks over how to better handle such damage claims.
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During borehole drilling operations, bentonite-based drilling mud mixes with excavated soil materials, which may drastically affect the mud’s rheological properties. Researchers in France developed a phenomenological model to quantify the yield stress of bentonite muds mixed with other clays.
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More than 100 attendees converged in downtown Charlotte, N.C., May 9–11 to take part in the combined meeting of the ACerS Structural Clay Products Division, ACerS Southwest Section, and Clemson University’s National Brick Research Center.
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With sand in increasingly short supply, researchers are exploring alternative materials that can be used in the creation of concrete. Researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore investigated the possibility of replacing sand and gravel with glass waste that would otherwise end up in landfills.
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Current industry practice for detecting and monitoring alkali-silica reactions in concrete requires destructive extraction and analysis of concrete cores. Argonne National Laboratory researchers explored the potential of using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for nondestructive evaluation of this reaction instead.
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Flood walls are traditionally made of concrete, but a few manufacturers are exploring the use of glass in flood wall design to maintain views of the surrounding area. See some examples of these glass walls in real-world applications.
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Since 1989, the Brick Industry Association has sponsored the Brick in Architecture Awards to recognize exceptional uses of clay brick in architecture. The 49 global winners for the 2021 awards include entries spanning the United States, Australia, Canada, and Mexico.
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Cold bending is a method commonly used to form curved glass for curtain walls. Researchers in China developed an analysis model to determine the reliability and sensitivity of glass formed this way.
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Sulfate attack is one of the most damaging causes of concrete deterioration. Two studies published this month look at the potential of new geopolymer mortars and the addition of nano alumina to improve concrete’s resistance to sulfate attack.
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Pacific Island nations are among those most at risk from climate change. The Kingdom of Tonga is one Pacific Island nation that exemplifies the work being done in this region to build climate resilience.
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