7 Common Mistakes to Avoid During Cold Weather Concreting
Although contractors might wish they did not have to perform tasks like pouring concrete in winter, construction does not stop when temperatures drop. As concrete temperature fluctuates in response to changing weather conditions, the concrete is subject to different curing conditions resulting in sporadic strength gain. Contractors must…
The Limitations of the Concrete Maturity Method
As a company that develops and produces concrete testing equipment, we can’t stress how important it is to properly test concrete with reliable equipment. In the last decade, we’ve seen the arrival of real-time sensors that make it easier than ever to gather data and put it to…
Why There is a Technology Revolution Happening in the Construction Industry
What is Driving the Technology Revolution?Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “revolutionize” as to change something radically or completely. Got the game on? Don’t miss a shot with SmartRock® in hand. Move faster. Cure better. It’s game on with SmartRock. Find out more today What would drive the revolution of the…
Giatec continues to uphold the value of bridging the gap between academic research and sustainable construction on the jobsite. Every year, we recognize civil engineering students, researchers and faculty across Canada and the U.S. with the Giatec Best Paper Award for Sustainability in Construction. Below is a summary of…
Role of IoT-Based Technology for Testing Concrete Strength and Temperature
What is the Internet of Things (IoT)? You may have heard the phrase but don’t really know what it means. Don’t worry, it is much less complicated than you may think! This article defines the concept very simply as “taking all the things in the world and connecting…
Concrete Maturity vs. Concrete Cylinder Test: Which Method is More Effective?
When it comes to any construction project that requires the use of concrete, whether it’s a hospital, residential building, road, bridge, or dam, concrete strength testing is an essential step in ensuring the integrity and durability of a structure. Furthermore, whether or not a project will move forward…
What is Post-Tensioning and How Does it Affect Concrete Strength?
Understanding Compressive Strength vs Tensile Strength Ensuring your concrete is durable and stable isn’t just about achieving an acceptable level of compressive strength, which is the concrete’s ability to withstand loads that crush or squeeze it. You also need to consider its tensile strength, the concrete’s ability to withstand…
The Top 25 Concrete Influencers to Follow in 2020
As social media platforms continue to grow, it can be overwhelming to decide who to follow. That is why we created this list of our favorite concrete influencers, five from Twitter, five from Instagram, five from YouTube, and ten from LinkedIn. These users cover many different facets of…
How to Stay Up to Date in the Concrete Industry
The internet has an extraordinary amount of knowledge on any topic, including concrete and construction! At the same time, we know that not all of this knowledge is trustworthy. This is why we’ve created a list of our favorite resources to help you navigate the concrete industry. Got…
Wood vs. Concrete: The Best Choice for Builders and GCs
Wood and concrete have been used in construction for thousands of years and for good reason. Both materials have properties that make them appealing building materials. In this blog, we will tackle the age-old debate of wood vs. concrete. However, before we dive headfirst into this heated debate,…
Detect the Rate of Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete Structures in Seconds
Corrosion is a natural process that begins when the steel rebar within reinforced concrete starts to rust. According to ACI, “corrosion occurs when the protective layer in concrete steel reinforcement is destroyed. Steel in concrete is usually protected against corrosion by the high pH of the surrounding portland-cement…
What is the Concrete Maturity Curve and Why Does it Matter?
Concrete has numerous properties that can be studied and recorded, but its compressive strength has generally been the center of attention. Indeed, in most projects, structures will use mix designs with the main focus being to reach a certain compressive strength as well as flowability and air content…
The Concrete Cube Test Explained
Concrete testing methods differ from place to place and each country has their own specifications that must be followed. While engineers and project managers in America adhere to the American Standard Testing Method (ASTM) C39 / C39M , Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens,…
10 Important Things to be Considered in Concrete Maturity Calibration
Make the Most of the Concrete Maturity Method with These Calibration TipsOne of our favorite subjects to write about is concrete maturity. One of—if not the—most important part of using concrete maturity onsite, is the calibration process. Got the game on? Don’t miss a shot with SmartRock® in…
Take Thermal Control of Your Concrete with SmartRock
Mass concrete pours are becoming more and more present in the construction industry. As our ambition grows, the size of our concrete structures grow with it. Massive pours have their specific set of challenges that must be anticipated and prepared for, including the thermal cracking of structures. In…
Comparative Analysis and Strength Estimation of Fresh Concrete
Giatec would like to recognize Najeebullah Tareen, Junkyeong Kim, Won-Kyu Kim, and Seunghee Park of Sungkyunkwan University for their incredible research regarding the strength estimation of fresh concrete based on ultrasonic wave propagation and maturity. In their academic research, they used SmartRock® sensors to access data regarding the…
In 1971, the One Shell Plaza pierced the Texas skyline, breaking the city record for the tallest building. This 52-storey building broke another record as the world’s tallest building made of lightweight concrete. Got the game on? Don’t miss a shot with SmartRock® in hand. Move faster. Cure…
Potholes—An Expensive and Recurring Problem for Cities
Potholes are a huge problem all over North America, but nowhere are the detrimental effects more evident than in Canada’s capital, Ottawa. According to CTV News, the city experienced over 40 freeze-thaw cycles during the 2018-2019 winter, which created tens of thousands of potholes that need to be…
