Organizations – February 2025

Richard Szecsy, PhD, PE, chief executive officer of Texas’ Big Town Concrete, has started a three-year ASTM International board term, joining 24 other directors representing companies, associations, organizations, universities and government bodies from around the world. A 30-year concrete industry veteran, he has been active in the American Concrete Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers, and National Ready Mixed Concrete…

Read More

Commerce taps ASTM International to lead Standardization Center of Excellence

The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology has awarded $15 million to support U.S. engagement in international standardization for critical and emerging technologies essential to domestic competitiveness and national security. The Standardization Center of Excellence will be led by global standards organization ASTM International, with multiple partners from across the standards development ecosystem. “Broad U.S. participation in…

Read More

ASTM brings committee deliverables to UN Climate Change Convention

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff ASTM International has been granted provisional observer status at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), November 11-22 in Baku, Azerbaijan. With a goal of advancing science-based, consensus solutions, ASTM representatives will showcase current committee and related efforts in the areas…

Read More

ASTM International names successor to president, 40-year veteran Morgan

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff Andrew G. Kireta Jr. will take the helm of ASTM International on May 1, succeeding Katherine Morgan, who has served as president since 2017 and retires after 40 years with the Society. ASTM officials cite his standards development background and familiarity with their  organization as uniquely positioning him for the role. Kireta is…

Read More

Organizations – November 2023

The National Steering Committee (NSC) for the Concrete Industry Management program has appointed three new officers: Chairman Karl Watson, Jr., Baker Construction Enterprises chief executive officer; Vice Chairman Steven Cox, Command Alkon vice president – Customer Success; and, Secretary/Treasurer Nicole Maher, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association chief operating officer.  Joining them on the NSC Board are newly appointed directors Maschmeyer…

Read More

Standard indicates pre-, post-peak tensile properties of fibrous specimens

A proposed ASTM International standard, WK 73384, New Test Method for Evaluating the Tensile Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Using Cylindrical Specimens with Double-Punch Loading, holds the potential to open conventional fiber-reinforced and ultra-high performance concrete (FRC, UHPC) to a broader range of engineered construction conditions. The document is under ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates balloting and the…

Read More

National Science Foundation funds Roman concrete investigation

A researcher at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, is looking to solve the problems of tomorrow by using chemistry from the distant past. Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Dr. Monday Uchenna Okoronkwo is investigating how to mimic the chemistry and composition of ancient Roman concrete while also applying modern technology to make today’s slabs, structures and…

Read More

Standard gauges fibrous concrete pre-, post-peak tensile properties

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff ASTM C09 Committee on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates’ WK 73384, New Test Method for Evaluating the Tensile Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Using Cylindrical Specimens with Double-Punch Loading, could open conventional fiber-reinforced and ultra-high performance concrete (FRC, UHPC) to a broader range of engineered construction conditions. The proposed standard is under full committee…

Read More

C09 subcommittee pens wide-ranging SCM performance specification

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates is balloting WK70466, New Specification for Supplementary Cementitious Material for Use in Concrete, covering a broad range of binders and offering a better method of gauging their potential than ASTM C618, Standard Specification for Coal Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use…

Read More

ASTM C09 eyes standard for fiber reinforced concrete tensile strength

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP Staff ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates aims to provide data enabling the engineering community to evaluate fiber performance through WK60666 New Practice for Direct Tension Testing of Fiber Reinforced Concrete, a proposed standard presently in the working phase. 

Read More