Believe it or not, concrete overlays have been in use in the U.S. for more than a century, with the first use dating back to the early 1900’s. Concrete overlays were first used to build new highways and roads in our country, but later on the focus changed to using overlays as a cost-effective way to extend the life of roads and bridges that were past their prime.
If you’ve ever wondered, “What is the difference between concrete and cement?” you’re in luck.
The terms concrete and cement are often used interchangeably. But the truth is, they are not the same. In fact, that “cement” truck many of us refer to on a job site is actually a misnomer—it is really a “concrete” truck.
Concrete is used by contractors and builders for bridges and seawalls due to its strength and durability. Unfortunately, seawalls made of traditional concrete are not immune to the effects of seawater, and bridges constructed of regular concrete are proving to be incapable of withstanding the damaging winds and forces of hurricanes and other strong storms.
Sustainable construction requires contractors to build roads, bridges, buildings, and other structures with a focus on reducing the social, economic, and environmental impact of the project—and it’s becoming increasingly important.
At Cor-Tuf, we’ve been using classic ready-mix techniques with our Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) for some time. One of our latest projects was completing a ready-mix bridge overlay job in upstate New York to demonstrate how easy UHPC is as part of everyday construction.
Construction crews know how to get a batch of concrete mixed, poured, and leveled. At job sites around the country (and the world), construction professionals use standard machines and well-known techniques to do the job right.
Concrete is the foundation of modern construction. Its strength and durability enables it to support heavy structures over long periods of time. Compressive strength is the prominent concrete specification, but tensile, flexural, and other properties can play a significant role in modern designs.
is the world’s preeminent authority on concrete research and industry standards. Based in Michigan and founded in 1904, ACI develops technical standards and certification criteria for the production, installation, and maintenance of concrete. Building and design codes at the local, state, federal, and international levels increasingly rely on ACI publications to establish specifications for concrete construction.
The use of ultra-high-performance concrete is becoming more common, thanks in no small part to the fact that it can now be mixed, transported, and poured using standard ready-mix trucks. The cost is also coming down, because you don’t need to buy a concrete manufacturer’s sand or cement; you can use your own. More on that in a bit.
