Emily Buenzle - Thu January 18, 2018
Self-Healing Concrete? Researchers Say It's Possible
Researchers at Binghamton University, SUNY, have developed a new kind of self-healing concrete that could help prevent damage to infrastructure across the U.S. According to Congrui Jin, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Binghamton, big concrete infrastructure issues usually begin with the smallest of cracks, Science Daily reported....
Emily Buenzle - Mon October 30, 2017
New Mixture Could Strengthen Concrete Up to 15 Percent
Some MIT students have found a way to create stronger, more environmentally friendly concrete. A team of undergraduate students have learned that exposing plastic flakes to small amounts of gamma radiation, grinding them into dust and then mixing the dust with cement paste and fly ash will produce concrete that is up to 15 percent stronger than a traditional mixture, MIT News reported....
Wed October 18, 2017
In-Vehicle Warnings Show Promise for Improving Work-Zone Safety
Work zones can be dangerous for both drivers and the work crew—but University of Minnesota researchers are working on innovative ways to lessen these risks and lower the rate of work-zone crashes....
The Canadian Press - Wed October 11, 2017
Researchers Develop New Material to Protect Buildings From Earthquake Damage
It was while flipping through British Columbia's seismic upgrade guidelines at the beginning of his civil engineering master's degree that Salman Soleimani-Dashtaki first realized something was amiss....
Emily Buenzle - Fri September 29, 2017
Steel Core Method Promises New Approach to Skyscraper Construction
A new method of building steel-framed skyscrapers is coming into play. The sandwich system consists of two steel plates that have been filled with concrete, the Engineering News-Record reported. According to engineers testing out the new method, the structure allows for the same strength, safety and serviceability as a typical reinforced concrete core would, but without the challenges rebar brings with it....
Emily Buenzle - Thu September 28, 2017
Researchers Create Snow-Melting Concrete as Salt Alternative
Just in time for snow removal season, researchers have developed a concrete mixture that melts snow on its own. A Drexel University research team has found that adding paraffin wax to concrete roads allows for the concrete to melt snow without the aid of salt, Forbes reported....
Scott Sonner - ASSOCIATED PRESS - Fri September 22, 2017
Earthquake Lab Tests New Bridge Design After Mexico Quake
Scientists at a Nevada earthquake lab on Sept. 20, tested new bridge designs with connectors they say are innovative and created to better withstand violent temblors and speed reconstruction efforts after major quake damage....
Emily Buenzle - Fri September 15, 2017
What Makes Concrete Crack? Researchers Look to Canadian Dam for Answers
Researchers from MIT's Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub), the University of New Brunswick and Oregon State University have teamed up to take a closer look at the durability of concrete in construction....
Tue September 05, 2017
Global Excavator Demand to Exceed $50B in 2021
Global demand for excavators is forecast to advance 9.9 percent per year through 2021 to $50.6 billion, approximating the average market pace, according to recent data from The Freedonia Group. Growth in the segment will be supported by:advances in global building and nonbuilding construction spending....
Emily Buenzle - Fri August 25, 2017
Researchers Develop New Construction Material From Coal Ash Waste
A composite material made from plastic and coal ash could replace wood in construction. Although “fly ash” has been used to make concrete for some time, researchers at North Carolina A&T University have combined wet, rough coal ash, typically found in ponds and landfills, with plastic to create a material that is uncannily similar to wood, WUNC reported....
