The Pavement that Drinks. Can it Handle the Freeze?

Pervious concrete is one of the hottest topics in land development today. As owners, architects, land developers, and concrete professionals become more familiar with its benefits, the interest in pervious concrete continues to grow. The use of pervious concrete pavements provides a solution to new requirements under Environmental Protection Agency regulations, which call for decreasing the amount of surface water runoff and initially treating the runoff.

Pervious pavements have been used for years throughout the warmer climates of the United States with excellent results. However, in climates prone to severe freeze-thaw cycles, some are hesitant to use these pavements until it has been proven that pervious concrete can be made to resist freeze-thaw damage. Research on this topic is currently underway. More.

Pervious Concrete: Hydrological Design and Resources (CD063)
A useful reference tool filled with technical and promotional resources, including Pervious Concrete Pavements (EB302). The CD also includes an analysis tool on hydrological design, based on the Pervious Concrete Hydrological Analysis Program, developed by Rooney and Leming, North Carolina State University, to illustrate the behavior of pervious concrete systems in relatively simple situations.

Pervious Concrete at the LEED™-Certified East Atlanta Library (Video) (CD067)
The perfect promotional tool for pervious concrete. This mini-CD introduces a case-study on the design and building of the LEED™-certified East Atlanta Library. The building included an innovative storm water system of light-colored pervious concrete parking lot, eliminating polluted storm water run-off, and contributing to cooler building systems.

Pervious Concrete Pavements Seminars
Denver, Colo.—July 10, 2006
Sacramento, Calif.—July 12, 2006
Los Angeles, Calif.—July 13, 2006

Q: How is white cement different and why is it used in decorative concrete?

A: There are only slight chemical and physical differences between gray portland cement and white portland cement. These differences are due to raw material differences and sometimes, though not always, slight differences in manufacturing. The goal is to minimize the oxides (particularly iron and manganese) that impart the grayish color normally associated with portland cement.

White portland cement is perfect for decorative concrete because it provides a neutral tinting base. This allows for the brightest, richest colors to be achieved in concrete, and requires the least amount of pigment to achieve the chosen color. More.

Click here for more about white cement and decorative concrete.

Undergraduate Faculty Enhancement Workshop
The Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials (ACBM) and the Portland Cement Association jointly sponsor the Undergraduate Faculty Enhancement Workshop being held June 26-28, 2006 at the PCA headquarters in Skokie, Ill. The Faculty Workshop will address the issues of adding and expanding coverage of concrete materials properties in undergraduate and graduate courses and laboratories. More.

Impact of Cement Characteristics on the Properties of Concrete
PCA is pleased to announce that Impact of Cement Characteristics on the Properties of Concrete, one of our newest 1-day regional concrete programs, will be held July 18, 2006, in Denver, Colo. For more information or to register click here.

For a complete listing of industry conferences, click here.

Application of Infrared Imaging to Fresh Concrete: Monitoring Internal Vibration (SN2806)

PCA's fellowship research had identified infrared imagery as an effective quality control tool. The use of infrared imaging would allow a concrete inspector to determine the location of the vibrator insertion points in a section of concrete. The spacing of these insertions could then be checked against specifications and recommendations for a given mixture. Previous research has established recommendations for optimal vibrator insertion spacing under various conditions and thermal imaging could be a useful tool in ensuring that proper insertion spacing is performed.

For a summary article of the research, click here.
To purchase the full report, click here.

Bob Harris' Guide to Concrete Overlays & Toppings (LT298)
The third in a series of timely guides for the decorative concrete industry, this book provides contractors with comprehensive instructions for rejuvenating concrete floors, exterior flatwork, and even wall surfaces. When existing concrete needs a face-lift, decorative overlays and toppings are the newest alternative to costly and disruptive removal and replacement.

Significance of Tests and Properties of Concrete and Concrete-Making Materials (STP169D) (LT205)
This revised and expanded publication is a must-have for cement and concrete industry professionals. Fifty-six chapters by distinguished experts update you on all the latest technology in concrete and concrete-making materials. From cement topics such as quality testing and slag cement to concrete topics such as durability and self-compacting concrete, this encyclopedic volume will serve as a primary reference tool for years to come.

There are many excellent and free databases on the web for finding technical information on cement and concrete. These tools are maintained by government agencies (your tax dollars at work), publishers, library consortia, and other organizations. Databases allow you to perform searches with far more efficient and relevant results because they have been designed for accurate retrieval. Some databases provide bibliographic references to journals and reports, with or without abstracts; others contain links to the actual articles or reports. More.