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Strengthening Concrete with Fibers
Fiber-reinforced polymer or FRP, is a concrete repair material that has been growing in popularity in the United States for close to 25 years now. FRP, as its name implies, is a polymer material with carbon, glass or steel wires imbedded in a polymer resin. The question is what is it good for? Often, concrete […]
Using Natural Cement to Preserve our Historical Infrastrcture
With the industrial Revolution, concrete began to be an essential piece of United States’ infrastructure. The need of large masonry buildings exploded the natural cement (a hydraulic cement made from limestone) production in the Americas. During the1890s, nearly 3 billion pounds of natural cement were produced and the demand continued to increase. The most prolific […]
Epoxy Injection
Cracks are common sign that structural failure may be occurring and can lead to multiple problems such as leaks, façade deterioration, foundation instability, etc. How can we address them? Epoxy injection is one of the most common approaches to address cracks in structures. Structural restoration using epoxy injection had been used for decades as a […]
The Ivy League
Aesthetics notwithstanding, there are potential problems associated with ivy-covered walls. * Tenrils of ivy will find & enter cracks/breaks in masonry. As the tendrils grow, they can exert enough pressure to break or dislodge bricks & mortar. This is especially true for older masonry, which tends to be softer than the more modern materials. Ivy […]
Balcony & Deck Collapses
The recent deadly balcony collapse in Berkeley, California has caused some to ask if this could happen to them? Balcony and deck collapses are not typical, but it does seem like we hear about these incidents frequently. To allay your fears, first keep in mind the Building Code prescribes loads to the structural engineer that […]
Using Water to Remove Concrete
Hydrodemolition is a method to remove concrete through the use of high-pressure water jets. This method can be used for horizontal, vertical, overhead, and underwater concrete removals. One of the main benefits of hydrodemolition over jack hammers is the elimination of the need for a secondary process to remove microcracking related damage to the concrete […]
New Research on Concrete Decay and Carbon Fiber
Recently, new research has been done in order to test the durability and strength of beams when carbon fiber strips and fabric are added to them. The experiments involved exposure to several environments such as high humidity, freezing-and-thawing cycles, and saltwater exposure. The data recorded from the durability tests showed that in high humidity environments […]
Nano-Technology meets Construction
A new nano-technology process that layers carbon steel elements with corrosion resistance and strength increasing materials is being tested. The steel is run through an electroplating bath and various layers of metals are applied to the steel, which is reported to increase the steel strength by up to ten times. High strength and corrosion resistance […]
Road Renovation
Green construction and sustainable buildings have been on the rise in the past few years. As technology advances, society has been attempting to create more environmentally friendly structures. The next step in sustainable structures is green roads, such as the new one in Houston, Texas. The Bagby Street Reconstruction Project in Houston, TX, is the […]
What is Shotcrete?
You’ve probably seen it before in your lifetime, but you may not have known it. Shotcrete is a construction technique that involves spraying concrete through a hose at very high speeds. It is a process rather than a specific material. Shotcrete is reinforced by steel rods, steel mesh, or fibers. Due to the force with […]
Micro Piles Gain Popularity
We often specify helical piers for foundation underpinning projects to correct building settlement conditions (see our previous post, “Screw It” http://blog.etc-web.com/?p=83 ), but occasionally we need to use micro piles instead. As the name suggests, micro piles are small diameter piles (generally 3” to 10” in diameter) that are installed by a drilling process. These […]
Transformation of Welding
The basic practice of forge welding goes back thousands of years. Scholars have come to a general consensus that welding has been practiced for more than 5,500 years (since around 3,500 BCE). But it wasn’t until the 1800’s that advancements in welding technology really started taking off and resembling the processes that we use today. […]