Watch as concrete core samples are meticulously extracted and handled according to ASTM standards. Proper procedure is crucial; deviations invalidate results. #ConcreteTesting #ASTM #QualityControl #Construction
Watch as we test concrete core strength. Analyzing broken cores reveals aggregate pop-out or shearing, indicating paste-aggregate bond issues or mix problems. Essential for quality control. #ConcreteTesting #ConstructionQuality #MaterialScience #CivilEngineering
Keep your concrete cylinders between 60-80°F (68-78°F for high-strength mixes) for accurate testing. Immediate placement in controlled environments is key. #ConcreteTesting #ConstructionTips #MaterialScience #Engineering
Watch as concrete cores are extracted and tested to ASTM standards. We ensure proper moisture conditioning, capping, and observe break results to verify aggregate bond and overall structural integrity for the building. #ConcreteTesting #Construction #CivilEngineering #QualityControl #ASTM
Encountering a low cylinder brake on a concrete project? This short covers what to do and how to troubleshoot this common issue. Get your project back on track. #ConcreteTips #Construction #Troubleshooting #ProjectManagement
The field crew needs to know about critical items like cure box locations and temperature control, even if they weren't in the pre-pour meeting. Communication needs to flow down the chain to ensure smooth operations. #ConstructionTips #ProjectManagement #FieldOperations #Communication
Want a representative concrete sample? Skip the first rocks and the last watery drips. Always sample from the middle third of the truck for the best mix design. #concretestips #ConcreteSampling #ConstructionTips #QualityControl #CivilEngineering
ACI advises on assessing structural integrity. Is the current strength sufficient for project needs? A critical evaluation for construction and engineering projects. #ACI #Construction #Engineering #StructuralIntegrity
Properly rotted and consolidated cylinders need a lid to retain moisture. Avoid common mistakes for optimal preservation. #CylinderCare #PreservationTips #Mechanics #Restoration
When concrete doesn't set right, detectives dig deep. First, check the batch weights and tickets. If the ready-mix company says everything's fine, the mystery continues. Who pays for the failure? #ConcreteFailures #Construction #Investigation #QualityControl
Ensure your concrete is sound! Learn why sampling from the middle third of the truck is crucial for accurate results and how improper cylinder handling can compromise your tests. Protect your project's integrity. #ConcreteTesting #ConstructionTips #QualityControl #CivilEngineering #BuildingScience
PRESENTED BY: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Practical education and ongoing development for concrete professionals at every stage of their career. Join here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/ EPISODE SUMMARY You get the 28-day report. It’s low. Now what? In this episode, Seth sits down with Josh Agee, Concrete Quality Assurance Manager at F.A. Wilhelm Construction,…
PRESENTED BY: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Practical education and ongoing development for concrete professionals at every stage of their career. Join here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/ EPISODE SUMMARY You get the 28-day report. It’s low. Now what? In this episode, Seth sits down with Josh Agee, Concrete Quality Assurance Manager at F.A. Wilhelm Construction,…
Ready-mix producers didn’t wake up one day and choose change. They were told it was coming. Jeff Slagle explains why cement manufacturers were brought directly onto the Virginia Ready Mix board, how producers got early visibility into what was coming next, and how regulatory pressure quietly reshaped cement choices in…
High-range water reducers changed what concrete can do, but data centers changed why we do it. Jeff Slagle explains how thermal concrete emerged, why fine aggregates and pea gravel mixes are showing up everywhere, and how encasement requirements for modern infrastructure quietly reshaped mix design. This wasn’t a lab innovation.…
In the mid-90s, mix designs weren’t about compressive strength. They were about “five-bag” and “six-bag” mixes dictated by prescriptive specs. Jeff Slagle explains how the industry slowly moved away from cement-heavy recipes toward strength-based thinking, especially as producers shifted from residential to commercial work. Simple ingredients. Big mindset change.
Ready-mix producers don’t have a concrete problem. They have a driver problem. Jeff Slagle explains why autonomous concrete trucks aren’t a gimmick, they’re a response to a shrinking labor pool. When you can’t find, hire, or keep drivers, technology steps in. The question isn’t if this happens. It’s how fast.
In the ’70s and ’80s, high-range water reducers barely worked. In the early days of polycarboxylates, you had a short window and zero forgiveness. Today? You can let concrete sit, come back an hour later, add water, and it snaps right back. Jeff Slagle walks through how admixture chemistry quietly…
Prescriptive specs sound safe, but they often miss the point. Jeff Slagle explains why performance-based specs put responsibility where it belongs: on the people who design, batch, and guarantee the mix. If you want concrete to perform, stop dictating ratios and start defining outcomes.
PRESENTED BY: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Practical education and ongoing development for concrete professionals at every stage of their career. Join here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/ EPISODE SUMMARY Thirty years ago, concrete mix designs were simpler, more prescriptive, and easier to predict. Today, they’re optimized, blended, engineered, and heavily influenced by admixtures, SCMs, and…
PRESENTED BY: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Practical education and ongoing development for concrete professionals at every stage of their career. Join here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/ EPISODE SUMMARY Thirty years ago, concrete mix designs were simpler, more prescriptive, and easier to predict. Today, they’re optimized, blended, engineered, and heavily influenced by admixtures, SCMs, and…
Certain crack patterns aren’t random and they aren’t isolated. Once you start seeing them repeat across job sites, it’s no longer coincidence—it’s a systemic problem that needs expert attention.
Some concrete problems don’t announce themselves right away. The early cracking most people ignore is often the first sign that something much bigger is coming—and it’s only a matter of time.
The accelerated mortar bar test gets a lot of pushback, especially in academic circles. But it remains one of the fastest ways to expose ASR potential before it shows up in the field.