Standard gauging cement hydration rate to streamline trial mixture phase

Source: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.

ASTM C1753, Practice for Evaluating Early Hydration of Hydraulic Cementitious Mixtures Using Thermal Measurements, will help concrete producers evaluate relative binder differences in paste, mortar and other mixture specimens. The forthcoming standard describes the apparatus and procedure for such evaluations, and will augment efforts to screen and proportion materials—lowering or eliminating costs associated with trial mixtures.

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Industry pushes back on code sidestepping friendly to taller wood buildings

Sources: Cement Association of Canada (CAC), Ottawa; CP staff

Cement and concrete interests are questioning the Quebec government’s decision to bypass the usual building code development process by allowing construction of taller (> five stories) wood buildings on the basis of a guide developed by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec and FPInnovations, a private research center dedicated to supporting the Canadian forest industry.

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PCI recognizes authors’ take on shear walls, SCC-cast girders, seismic provisions practice

Source: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago

The PCI Journal Awards Committee has named recipients of the four 2015 PCI Journal awards, recognizing the authors’ contributions to the institute and industry through technical and engineering articles in the bimonthly publication.

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Transportation construction report shows industry scale, net economic activity

Sources: American Road and Transportation Builders Association, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

In “The 2015 U.S. Transportation Construction Industry Profile,” ARTBA Chief Economist Dr. Alison Premo Black estimates the value of 2015 public and private transportation construction and maintenance work at upwards of $275 billion, an investment generating nearly $510 billion in annual U.S. economic activity and accounting for 1.6 percent of Gross Domestic Product.

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Following Lanxess model, Bayer spins off MaterialScience business

Source: Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany

Bayer MaterialScience, whose polymer technology supports polyaspartic-based coatings for concrete, rigid foam insulation and other construction product offerings, has transitioned to Covestro AG, a legally and economically independent, but wholly owned Bayer Group subsidiary.

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