New research into ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) could transform the way buildings, bridges and other high-stress projects are constructed. UHPC, like normal concrete, contains cement, sand and chemical additives, but is made with different proportions that produce a denser-packed concrete that requires no steel reinforcements. The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is supporting research into new […]
Read MoreResearchers in the USA from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently built steel beam-supported concrete flooring structures and set blazes on them to collect data on how fire affects concrete flooring. The researchers spent months constructing various structures with concrete flooring supported by steel beams, a system commonly found in high office […]
Read MoreFacebook Reality Labs in Pittsburgh USA needed specially constructed concrete floor rooms for a new virtual reality (VR) system. The rooms where Facebook technicians create virtual avatars are black with large spheres that contain hundreds of tiny cameras used to record movements and voices of the Pittsburgh volunteers, which are made into realistic VR avatars. […]
Read MoreA new concrete deck at London City Airport has been laid more precisely and in good time, thanks to concrete prediction technology. Concrete contractor Converge placed sensors in freshly poured concrete which sent temperature data to a Cloud-based system, to inform engineers when the concrete is at the correct temperature for maximum strength. After analysing […]
Read MoreThe latest Star Wars film, the Rise of Skywalker, has prompted one fan to look at how concrete has helped save the Rebel Alliance in this and other Star Wars films. Alistair Marsh, writing on the website Quartz, says that on more than one occasion, the Rebel Alliance has retreated to fortified bases to escape […]
Read MoreEngineers have developed a new type of concrete made up of 40% waste tinder, rice husk and sand. This concrete is economical to produce, and high impact and crackle resistant. The new concrete has been developed at the Military Studies Center at Far Eastern Federal University (MSC FEFU). It is intended for use in military […]
Read MoreA US building has made use of concrete flooring to keep the welfare of canine visitors in mind. The new Bark office in Columbus, Ohio was designed by architects NBBJ. No carpets were allowed, so all floors are made from concrete, although some areas have woven vinyl or rubber floor covering over the concrete subfloor. […]
Read MoreArchitects and builders are developing ways to protect homes and commercial buildings from floods, including using concrete flooring. The UK Climate Projections, published in 2018, warned that in the next few years, Britain is likely to experience higher summer temperatures, the sea levels will rise, and there will be more extreme weather, including flash floods. […]
Read MoreResearchers believe they may have found a way to make concrete flooring more resistant to damage from salty water. In icy weather, tons of salt (sodium chloride) is spread on concrete flooring, roads and walkways to prevent people and vehicles from slipping on ice. Most of the salt is washed away after the cold spell, […]
Read MoreA whopping 9,000 cubic metres of concrete was poured and reinforced with 5,000 tonnes of steel at the new Hinkley Point C nuclear electricity generating plant. This breaks a previous UK record set during the construction of London’s Shard skyscraper. The Hinkley Point C plant is the UK’s biggest engineering project. Expected to be completed […]
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