Concrete might form the bedrock of modern urban construction, but its impact on the environment is raising concerns among climate researchers. Recent estimates suggest that Portland cement, the essential binding ingredient in concrete, accounts for roughly seven percent of global carbon emissions. That could change soon, however, thanks to a multinational effort to drastically reduce… Read more »
Posts By: Bergen Mobile Concrete
In India, Waste Plastic Could Begin Replacing Sand in Concrete
India’s urban populations are growing at an unprecedented rate, and construction crews are having trouble keeping up with the demand for structural concrete due to a nationwide sand shortage. Meanwhile, the country’s lack of recycling infrastructure is allowing thousands of tons of waste plastic to pile up in city streets as well. But thanks to… Read more »
Engineer Develops New Sealant That Could Prevent Concrete Cracks
The nation’s concrete roadways receive a whole lot of wear and tear, particularly in regions that experience extreme changes in temperature during the summer and winter. These temperature fluctuations can cause paved concrete surfaces to expand and contract, resulting in cracks that require seasonal repairs and replacement. Thanks to the efforts of a mechanical engineering… Read more »
Things to Keep in Mind When Pouring Concrete in Extreme Heat
Although cold temperatures are typically a greater obstacle when working with concrete, hot summer days can present some unique challenges as well. To understand how extreme heat affects freshly-poured concrete, it’s important to first have a clear understanding of how the concrete-setting process works. Concrete sets via an exothermic reaction called hydration. When concrete hydrates,… Read more »
The US Army is 3D Printing Concrete Structures
Additive manufacturing processes—also known as 3D printing—are being used to make everything from medical devices to engine components, and now the U.S. Army is even using employing a similar technique to build concrete structures. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has devised a system that allows them to create lightweight concrete structures quickly with a… Read more »
Graphene Could Make Concrete Stronger, More Eco Friendly
Recent advances in nanoengineering have allowed scientists at the University of Exeter to develop an innovative new technique that incorporates graphene into conventional concrete production. The graphene-infused concrete is reportedly twice as strong and four times more water resistant than traditional concrete mixes. It also reduces the amount of materials needed to make concrete by… Read more »
Researchers Use Fungus to Create Self-Healing Concrete
Do you have an old concrete driveway that’s starting to crack from years and wear and tear? At this point, you might be thinking about tearing it up and repaving it with fresh concrete. But what if we told you a group of scientists is developing a new “self-healing” concrete that could stop small cracks… Read more »
Researchers Develop New Wear-Resistant Concrete Treatment
Concrete is a famously durable building and paving material, but even the most robust concrete mix can be damaged by prolonged exposure to heavy wind and rain. Harsh environmental conditions can accelerate concrete deterioration, reducing the effective service life of concrete structures and paved surfaces. Engineers have been experimenting with ways to weatherproof concrete for… Read more »
MIT Students Strengthen Concrete With Recycled Plastic
Concrete mixtures have evolved quite a bit over the course of the last several thousand years. Whereas the ancient Romans added volcanic ash their concrete to allow it to set underwater, modern concrete often features chemical admixtures to control its hardening rate and tensile strength. Engineers are always looking for ways to make stronger, more… Read more »
Swiss Researchers Develop Ultra-Thin Concrete Roof Design
Concrete is one of the oldest building materials in the world, and yet engineers are still finding creative new ways to incorporate concrete into their industrial designs. At ETH Zurich in Switzerland, for example, one group of researchers recently built a prototype roof design using a curved concrete that’s just 5 cm thick on average…. Read more »