Concrete Sustainability Hub looks to economy, environment in decade two

Sources: Massachusetts Institute of Technology; RMC Research & Education Foundation, Portland Cement Association, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff

The Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation and Portland Cement Association have marked the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-hosted Concrete Sustainability Hub’s 10th anniversary with a five-year, $10 million commitment and eye to solutions for economic, environmental, and social challenges.

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Foundation guides industry to the next concrete pavement frontier

Sources: Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff

Looking beyond roads, streets, parking lots and traditional flatwork, the RMC Research and Education Foundation’s latest publication responds to an emerging pavement market opportunity for ready mixed concrete producers. The 36-page Guide to Concrete Trails covers project background and funding; choice of concrete versus alternative paving materials; design and engineering; concrete mix designs, delivery and placement; paving machinery and slab finishing methods; plus, jointing, curing and maintenance. 

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NRMCA research finds cause to revisit ACI 318 chloride limits

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff

In collaboration with Dr. Neal Berke of Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Tourney Consulting Group, NRMCA has completed research to a) establish a relationship between the calculated total (initial) chloride content and measured water-soluble chloride content in hardened concrete; and, b) potentially give ready mixed producers latitude in mixture adjustments on projects bound by ACI 318 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete.

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Backing accident prevention kicks off online driver training series

In advance of an online driver training series to be formally released this month at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s ConcreteWorks Conference & Expo, the RMC Research and Education Foundation has posted on YouTube a preview of a two-lesson module addressing truck backing safety. The series will offer participants e-learning lessons 24/7, with backing accident prevention to be followed by lessons on equipment lock out/tag out procedures, plus slip, trip and fall prevention—topics that lead Occupational Safety and Health Administration citation activity among ready mixed producers. The lessons were shot at NRMCA producer members’ plants and at onsite pours so viewers relate to how a concept applies directly to their circumstances. 

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Former DOT Chief LaHood keynotes MIT CSHub Showcase 2013

Source: Concrete Sustainability Hub at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

Seven-term Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL), who served as President Obama’s first term Secretary of Transportation, will keynote this year’s CSHub Showcase, September 25-26 at the Media Lab on the MIT campus.

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