Although cold temperatures are typically a greater obstacle when working with concrete, hot summer days can present some unique challenges as well. To understand how extreme heat affects freshly-poured concrete, it’s important to first have a clear understanding of how the concrete-setting process works. Concrete sets via an exothermic reaction called hydration. When concrete hydrates,… Read more »
Posts By: Bergen Mobile Concrete
The US Army is 3D Printing Concrete Structures
Additive manufacturing processes—also known as 3D printing—are being used to make everything from medical devices to engine components, and now the U.S. Army is even using employing a similar technique to build concrete structures. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has devised a system that allows them to create lightweight concrete structures quickly with a… Read more »
Graphene Could Make Concrete Stronger, More Eco Friendly
Recent advances in nanoengineering have allowed scientists at the University of Exeter to develop an innovative new technique that incorporates graphene into conventional concrete production. The graphene-infused concrete is reportedly twice as strong and four times more water resistant than traditional concrete mixes. It also reduces the amount of materials needed to make concrete by… Read more »
Researchers Use Fungus to Create Self-Healing Concrete
Do you have an old concrete driveway that’s starting to crack from years and wear and tear? At this point, you might be thinking about tearing it up and repaving it with fresh concrete. But what if we told you a group of scientists is developing a new “self-healing” concrete that could stop small cracks… Read more »
Researchers Develop New Wear-Resistant Concrete Treatment
Concrete is a famously durable building and paving material, but even the most robust concrete mix can be damaged by prolonged exposure to heavy wind and rain. Harsh environmental conditions can accelerate concrete deterioration, reducing the effective service life of concrete structures and paved surfaces. Engineers have been experimenting with ways to weatherproof concrete for… Read more »
MIT Students Strengthen Concrete With Recycled Plastic
Concrete mixtures have evolved quite a bit over the course of the last several thousand years. Whereas the ancient Romans added volcanic ash their concrete to allow it to set underwater, modern concrete often features chemical admixtures to control its hardening rate and tensile strength. Engineers are always looking for ways to make stronger, more… Read more »
Swiss Researchers Develop Ultra-Thin Concrete Roof Design
Concrete is one of the oldest building materials in the world, and yet engineers are still finding creative new ways to incorporate concrete into their industrial designs. At ETH Zurich in Switzerland, for example, one group of researchers recently built a prototype roof design using a curved concrete that’s just 5 cm thick on average…. Read more »
Yellowstone Installs New Walkways Made of “Thirsty” Concrete
Most people visit Yellowstone National Park to take in the natural scenery and get away from the usual hustle and bustle of tech-filled lives. But as it turns out, Yellowstone is employing an interesting new concrete technology which could soon become a popular paving method elsewhere as well. Yellowstone officials recently installed a 4,000-square-foot walkway… Read more »
Researchers Solve Mystery Behind Ancient Roman Concrete
Modern cement-based concrete might be pretty durable and long lasting, but it’s got nothing on the concrete used to build piers, sea walls and harbors in ancient Rome. Despite being partially submerged in corrosive saltwater for more than two thousand years, many of these structures remain standing to this day. Scientists have long wondered why… Read more »
Researchers are 3D Printing a Reinforced Concrete Bridge
3D printers are useful for more than just making small plastic parts. Recently, a team of researchers at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands began 3D printing reinforced concrete components for a cycling bridge in an effort to test out new applications for 3D printing technologies. In fact, this isn’t the first time… Read more »