 What's
your favorite construction smell?
It's spring and the smell of concrete is in the air—along
with paint, asphalt, and diesel fumes.
Take the PCA Poll
|
|
 |
 CEMEX
Breaks Ground for
$250-Million Expansion
On March 23, CEMEX USA President Gilberto
Perez (right) and Texas Governor Rick Perry broke ground at
a celebration signaling the official beginning of CEMEX’s
Balcones cement operations expansion. Numerous state legislators,
New Braunfels citizens, and CEMEX employees attended the event.
“This expansion demonstrates a significant financial commitment
to the community, a dedication to the environment, and allows
Texas to be better positioned to meet its future needs for housing,
roads, bridges, commercial buildings and other infrastructure
facilities,” said Perez..
Estimated at $250 million, the project will add a second kiln
to the operations, doubling the cement production capacity to
2.4 million tons to support the growing need for cement in Texas.
Even though the cement production will double, the operations’
emissions will not increase. CEMEX will replace existing equipment
and install state-of-the-art technology to protect the environment.
More efficient dust control equipment and the installation of
new NOx control technology to the existing kiln system will
be completed. The new kiln will receive the latest technology
in terms of emission levels and fuel efficiency. Additionally,
a high-tech new finish mill with an energy efficient vertical
roller mill, one of only a few in the United States, will be
built. All of these items will allow the plant, when the new
expansion is fully completed in 2008, to remain at current emissions
levels and at the cutting edge of technology in the industry.
More
at www.CEMEXUSA.com
|
 |
Garrett
Named President and CEO of CTL Group
The CTLGroup Board of Directors has named Dr. Jeffrey L. Garrett
to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of
CTLGroup, effective Monday, April 16, 2007. He succeeds Tony
Fiorato, who will retire June 1.
Garrett joined the CTLGroup in 2001 and has served as Senior
Principal Structural Engineer and Group Manager. He has also
served the firm in a broader leadership role through participation
in the development of CTLGroup’s latest strategic plan.
He has over 30 years of experience in structural engineering
design, consulting, management, and business development. Prior
to joining the CTLGroup he was Senior Managing Engineer of the
Chicago Regional Office of Exponent Failure Analysis. He has
also served in senior management positions at Hanson Lind Meyer
Inc.
Garrett received his B.A. in Architecture, and his M.S. and
Ph.D. degrees in Civil (Structural) Engineering from Iowa State
University. He is a licensed structural engineer in Illinois
and a registered professional engineer in thirteen states.
|
 |
| Soil-Cement Promotion Deep
in the Heart of Texas
Lassoing a renewed interest in the use
of portland cement in engineered soils applications, a promotional
and educational effort led by Matt Singel with the Cement
Council of Texas, with assistance from PCA's Greg Halsted
and Dan Richwine with Texas Industries, recently kicked off
in the Lone Star State with three Innovations in Pavement
Maintenance and Construction Workshops.
The day-long workshops were held in the Austin, Tyler, and
Dallas/Fort Worth areas and discussed the recent advances
and the latest techniques in subgrade modification, cement-treated
base construction, and pavement reconstruction through full-depth
reclamation.
Because of the unique challenges presented when working with
Texas soils, a great deal of time was spent discussing the
applications, benefits, design, construction, testing, and
performance of cement-modified soil (CMS), a process for improving
the quality of poor subgrade and foundation soils. When small
amounts of portland cement are added to fine sands and silts,
the result is the creation of a working platform that will
handle the construction loads. Similar amounts of portland
cement in plastic clays – with plasticity indices of
up to 35 and higher – will permanently improve the moisture
susceptibility and plasticity of the soils, again providing
a strong working platform for construction.
More than 125 public works officials, DOT engineers, consultants,
and others were in attendance to learn how CMS and other soil-cement
applications could provide them with long-term pavement solutions
and cost savings. Additional Workshops are already in the
planning stages.
Contact Matt
Singel at the Cement Council of Texas
|
 |
| Concrete
Weighs In at Green Building Conference
PCA and other members of the National Association of Home
Builders' Concrete Home Building Council participated at NAHB’s
Green Building Conference in St. Louis, Mo., March 25-27,
2007. Hundreds of builders attended the show to gain knowledge
on the latest in environmentally friendly, energy efficient
home building.
PCA met with reporters from the St. Louis Construction
News and Real Estate and local radio station KMOX-AM
on the advantages concrete building systems offer to consumers
and builders.
|
 |
ACI Announces Special
Events at its Spring Convention
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recently announced three
special events in conjunction with its upcoming convention in
Atlanta, Ga., April 22-26, 2007. The events include a hard-hat
tour of the Southface Eco Office, a pervious concrete demonstration,
and tours of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA)
newest Mobile Concrete Laboratory.
The exciting newly opened Southface Eco Office building in Atlanta
is planned as a Platinum LEED building constructed with ICFs.
Speakers will discuss architectural, design, and construction
aspects of the project. This building is also the site of a
pervious concrete demonstration.
The Mobile Concrete Laboratory (MCL) is a fully functional laboratory
housed in a 50-foot trailer. The MCL provides on-site testing
to complement state-of-practice testing, training state highway
administration (SHA) personnel in the use of new technologies,
overseeing an equipment loan program to SHA staff, and displaying
innovative equipment at conferences and SHA facilities.
More
at www.concrete.org
|
 |
| Results from
Last Week:
Recycling Gets Nod Over Replacement
Do you think using full-depth reclamation
with cement to recycle roads and streets is a viable alternative
to removal and replacement?
Take the
current poll
|
 |
Effect of Relative
Humidity on Expansion and Microstructure of Heat-Cured Mortars:
This research report describes the effect of moisture
exposure on expansion in heat-cured mortars due to delayed ettringite
formation (DEF). Mortar bar samples were cured at 90ºC,
and then stored for more than 4 years in moist air at 75%, 80%,
84%, 90%, 92%, 97%, and 100% relative humidity (RH). Periodic
weight and length measurements were made along with chemical
analyses. The results show that DEF-related expansion is influenced
by the level of moisture exposure. The study suggests that a
threshold level of moisture exposure for expansion to occur
seems to be between 90% and 92% RH (RD139; no charge; PDF only).
More
information
Comparison of Mortar Leaching Methods:
Mortar cubes made with portland cement and standard sand were
spiked with concentrations up to 1,000 mg/kg of lead, cadmium,
or chromium by weight of cement. Cubes were cured either in
moist air or under water and then dried. Samples were processed
for chemical analysis by three protocols: acid-digestion total
analysis, EPA Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP),
and ANSI/NSF61 drinking water system component evaluation. Results
suggest that cements containing up to approximately 1,000 mg/kg
of lead, cadmium, or chromium do not pose a significant environmental
risk for leaching of those elements into ground water or soil.
Results also suggest that cement containing less than approximately
500 mg/kg of these elements does not pose a risk when used in
drinking water system components. Results may vary for specific
chemical and physical compositions of cement and concrete/mortar
mixes and curing conditions (SN2660; no charge; PDF only)
More
information
Analysis and Design of Slab Track Laboratory Specimens:
Two full-scale 26-foot-long concrete slab track specimens were
constructed in the structural laboratory of CTLGroup and subjected
to 3 million load cycles from simulated freight cars with 39-ton
axle loads. This report describes the structural analysis and
design of the direct fixation slab track and independent dual
block slab track laboratory specimens and contains a comparison
between the analytical and load test results. The report is
a valuable reference for freight, high speed, and transit railroad
engineers involved in track design. The laboratory tests on
concrete slab track are part of the Cooperative Slab Track Research
and Demonstration Program for Shared Freight and High Speed
Passenger Service, which is cosponsored by PCA and the Federal
Railroad Administration (SN2795a; no charge; PDF only).
More
information
Slab Track Field Test And Demonstration Program
For Shared Freight And High Speed Passenger Service: In
July, 2003, two types of concrete slab track were constructed
to Class 9 Track Safety Standards on the High Tonnage Loop at
the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing in Pueblo, Colorado.
The test section consists of 250 feet of independent dual block
track and 250 feet of direct fixation slab track, and the test
train consists of locomotives and heavy freight cars with 39-ton
axle loads. After three years of testing, 170 million gross
tons accumulated on the test section. During this time, maintenance
of the slab track was not required to retain the Class 9 track
geometry. This report summarizes the results of the field test,
which was cosponsored by PCA and the Federal Railroad Administration.
The field test is part of the Cooperative Slab Track Research
and Demonstration Program for Shared Freight and High Speed
Passenger Service (SN2988; no charge; 15-MB PDF only).
Download or contact Carmaline
Spurrier for a CD
Canadian Market Pulse Report: The
Canadian Market Pulse report presents provincial level data
on key economic, detailed construction sector, and cement consumption
trends most relevant to the Canadian cement industry. Short
and medium term trend data is provided in convenient tabular
format. Detailed construction permit activity viewed as a leading
indicator of future activity is also provided. The Canadian
Market Pulse is part of a subscription to the Monitor Plus package.
Contact
Karen Arneson
An Engineering Guide to: Openings in Concrete Floor
Slabs: This bulletin presents information on openings
in concrete floor slabs. The publication includes guidelines
for selecting the opening locations and sizes for new slabs.
Information on openings in existing slabs is presented. Also
methods of strengthening existing slabs to accommodate new openings
are discussed (IS112;printed copies are $20.00 for a pack of
25, less discounts; PDF is free).
More
information
Code Requirements for Environmental Engineering
Concrete Structures and Commentary
(ACI 350-06): This document covers the structural
design, materials selection, and construction of environmental
engineering concrete structures. Such structures are used for
conveying, storing, or treating liquid or other materials such
as solid waste. They include ancillary structures for dams,
spillways, and channels. Structures covered in this document
are subject to uniquely different loadings, more severe exposure
conditions, and more restrictive serviceability requirements
than non-environmental building structures. This code presents
new material as well as modified portions of the ACI 318-02
Building Code that are applicable to environmental engineering
concrete structures (LT182; $166.50, no discount).
More
information
Promotional Information Update, Issue
No. 40, March 2007: Articles include: People on the Move; Government
Affairs Fly-In Slated for Early May; PCA and NRMCA Present Pervious
Concrete Seminars; PCA Launches DIY Promotion Tools; State Alliance
Preserves Fire Provision in Building Codes; and information
and registration form for the 2007 Professional Promoters’
Workshop to be held May 1–3 at the DoubleTree Hotel and
Conference Center, Skokie, Ill. (uncoded; no charge; PDF only).
View
or download
The Pyramid Controversy: an Annotated Bibliography:
Were the Egyptian Pyramids constructed of carved
limestone blocks from nearby quarries, or from cast-in-place
concrete? A decades-old controversy was reignited recently with
publication of a new article in the December 2006 issue of the
Journal of the American Ceramic Society. In it, material scientists
claim new chemical evidence of concrete in the higher levels
of the pyramids. Opponents, including Egyptologists, continue
to dispute the evidence, and point out that the diverse shapes
of the stones show that molds were not used. The sources listed
here—articles, conference papers, books, and Web sites—represent
authors on each side of the argument. Abstracts are included
where available (LB30; no charge; PDF only).
More
information
Concrete Homes House Plans –
Volume Three: This third edition plan book from the publishers
of Concrete Homes magazine features nearly 100 of today’s
most popular home plans. Collected from three prominent design
firms, they are specially designed to incorporate the benefits
of high-performance, above-grade concrete wall systems—energy
efficiency, durability, safety, and comfort. Each offering is
in full color and illustrated with a front elevation, floor
plan(s) and a brief description about the home. Contact and
pricing information is provided for the design firms, allowing
you to purchase stock plans or make custom modifications (LT303;
$6.95, no discount).
More
information
|
| |
| For more information
or to register, contact Julie
Lisiecki. |
Cement
and Concrete Overview
April 16-17, 2007 |
Impact
of Cement Characteristics on Concrete Properties
May 15, 2007
Midlothian, Texas
September 19, 2007
Bethlehem, Pa.
|
Raw
Mix Chemistry
May 16, 2007
Midlothian, Texas
|
Pulverized
Fuel Guidelines for the Cement Industry
September 18, 2007
Bethlehem, Pa.
|
|
|
| |
IEEE-IAS/PCA
Cement
Industry Technical Conference
April 29-May 3, 2007.
Charleston, S.C.
More
information
|
12th
International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement
July 8-13, 2007
Montreal, Quebec
More
information
|
Pervious
Concrete—A Stormwater Solution
Detroit—July 10
Lexington, Ky.—July 12
Washington, DC—July 24
Pittsburgh—July 26
Minneapolis—Aug. 7
Milwaukee—Aug 9
More
information |
|
![]() |
| The
Executive Report is distributed free of charge to members
of PCA and to individuals interested in PCA activities or
the cement, concrete, and construction industries.
|
View or download
back issues |
|
| |
5420 Old Orchard Rd.
Skokie, Illinois 60077
847.966.6200 info@cement.org
500 New Jersey Ave. N.W.
7th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20001
202.408.9494 fax 202.408.0877 |
 |
|
|
©2007 Portland Cement Association
All rights reserved
The Portland Cement Association conducts market development,
research, education, and government affairs work on behalf
of
its members—cement companies in the United States and
Canada.
|
|
