Analyzing Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete Structures
Reinforced concrete structures have shaped our cities for thousands of years, from historical buildings stretching as far back as the Romans to present day, such as the 3-storey parking garage adjacent to the mega shopping mall a few miles from your home. As individuals living in the 21st…
Concrete-Eating Robots – The Future of Recycling Old Buildings
The process of demolishing a building involves heavy machinery to crush concrete and separate valuable materials that can be reused. Current methods consume quite a significant amount of time and money in order to safely disassemble the building, extract parts, and transport the materials to off-site centers for repurposing. Furthermore, these processes use a large volume of water to prevent dust clouds from…
Why Measure Concrete Resistivity?
Concrete is a porous material which contains microscopic voids known as pores. These pores range in size, vary in connectivity (pore structure) and can be added to the concrete via air-entraining admixtures. The water-to-cementitious material and type of cementitious materials used have a significant effect on the pore…
The global pandemic that hit our North American shores early in 2020 has brought profound change to how we work, live, and operate in the construction industry. Many companies weathered the storm, and those that did it the best relied on their resiliency to not only adapt to…
Reduce Heat Curing Cost of Concrete in Winter Using the Maturity Method
Every year, the construction industry goes through a recurring cycle. During summer, construction worksites explode in number and activity. This is the time when concrete strength development occurs at a steady pace. The summer weather contributes and does not slow concrete strength gain. This blog will walk you through some methods commonly used to ensure strength,…
Curing Boxes vs. The Maturity Method: Maintaining Concrete Temperature Onsite
Concrete curing temperature is undoubtedly a critical part of construction. According to a report by ACI Committee 308, the American Concrete Institute defines “curing” as “the process by which hydraulic-cement concrete matures and develops hardened properties over time.” This process can be negatively impacted if freshly placed concrete…
Salt on Concrete Roads Damage Outweighs the Benefits
Winter in colder climates such as Canada, Alaska, and the Upper Mid-West entails treacherous and unpredictable driving conditions, with snow and ice build-up making roads unsafe. For over 70 years, the solution to this problem has been to cover roads with sodium chloride…
SmartRock 2 VS. SmartRock 3: What’s the Difference Between these Concrete Sensors?
By now, you might have noticed that we recently released a newly re-engineered version of our leading concrete sensor. This flagship product, SmartRock®, was introduced to the market back in 2015. In September of 2020, we were thrilled to release the third generation. The purpose of this blog…
Building Clean Energy: Mass Concrete Temperature Monitoring with SmartRock®
As global initiatives to go carbon-neutral continue to push the demand for sustainable and renewable energy sources, many are looking to wind farms as a green solution to energy needs. Wind power has been used as an energy source for centuries – from windmills grinding grain to sailboats traversing bodies of water. However, as more and more of…
Dallas Bridge Margaret McDermott Eliminates Testing to Save Money
Photo by Art Davis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Explore 12 Futuristic Technology Trends Solving Concrete’s Biggest Challenges. Download our 2025 Innovations Calendar! Download Now The Margaret McDermott Dallas Bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas was intended to replace the I-30 bridge built in the…
Wired vs. Wireless Concrete Temperature and Strength Sensors
Since the commercialization of the maturity method, there have been important advancements in monitoring and computing technologies such as a simple thermocouple for concrete, wireless sensors, manual data entry, cloud sharing systems, and more. Explore 12 Futuristic Technology Trends Solving Concrete’s Biggest Challenges. Download our 2025 Innovations Calendar!…
Coring vs. Maturity? What’s the Best Way to Test Concrete Strength?
The quality of your concrete directly depends on proper curing and accurate strength tests. While there are several different methods used to test concrete strength, not all of them are equally efficient. Below, we compare two methods of strength testing: concrete coring and concrete maturity. Explore 12 Futuristic…
Mastering Post-Tensioning in Cold Weather Conditions with Smart Technology
Post-tensioning is a critical component of modern construction, providing the structural strength needed for large-scale buildings and infrastructure projects. However, when cold weather enters the equation, it can create significant challenges in ensuring the success of this process. Low temperatures slow down concrete curing and strength development, making…
Monitoring Concrete Temperature With Wireless Sensors
Running temperature measurements of your pour after placement is one of the most important steps in the construction of a concrete structure. That is why ensuring optimal curing conditions for your element is critical, especially during extreme weather conditions. The hydration process (the chemical reaction between hydraulic cement…
Offer Your Clients the Most Sophisticated Corrosion Assessment Tool with iCOR®
Does your company provide condition assessment services to your clients? When was the last time your customers understood the corrosion levels on the surface of their reinforcement? Conduct annual and even semi-annual testing to understand the condition of the rebar over time. Then estimate the remaining service life….
Remotely Monitor Your Concrete Structures in Cold Weather
During the winter months, when snow has taken over every inch of not only your driveway, but also your jobsite, it can be incredibly frustrating to carry on with regular construction operations. Explore 12 Futuristic Technology Trends Solving Concrete’s Biggest Challenges. Download our 2025 Innovations Calendar! Download Now…
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 the concrete temperature fluctuates in response to changing weather conditions, the concrete is subject to different curing conditions resulting in sporadic strength gain. Contractors…
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…
The concrete game has changed. Find out what self-calibrating sensors can do for you with Giatec’s SmartRock® Pro.
