Foam concrete is a kind of concrete with lightweight and has ideal strength. Because of the hollow structure in foam concrete, it has the function of absorbing heat and isolating sound.
The density of foamed concrete is 300-1200 kg/m3, and the thermal conductivity is between 0.08-0.3W/ (m ·K).
Foam concrete is widely used in CLC blocks, lightweight partition panels, roof insulation, floor cushion construction, floor heating backfilling, and other occasions.
At the same time, foam concrete is also a good sound absorption material, which can be used in highway sound insulation boards, sound absorption boards, and other fields.
Generally speaking, foam concrete is a kind of building material with multi-function, environmental protection, and economy, which has a wide application prospect.
Recently, construction began on an opening bridge on the Charleroi Canal in Halle, in the Flanders region of Belgium. It is intended to replace the Bospoort Bridge and facilitate loading. A concrete additives called polycarboxylate superplasticizer played a vital role.
The passage of triple-decker container ships promotes inland container transport as an alternative to truck transport. The new bridge has an investment of 17.5 million euros.
The existing Bossport Bridge was built in 1954, and anti-collision railings were installed on the front side of the bridge. In 2010, during a safety inspection, it was discovered that the bridge's prestressed steel bars were defective, and then they were repaired and used reluctantly. Now, it is imperative to replace the bridge.
The specific application of polycarboxylate superplasticizer in bridge construction
Enhance the working performance of concrete: Polycarboxylate, a high-efficiency water-reducing agent, can significantly increase the slump of concrete, maintain good slump retention performance, and maintain good fluidity of concrete for a long time to meet the requirements during construction. Pumping requirements. This helps improve construction efficiency and reduce construction interruptions.
Improve the mechanical strength of concrete: Polycarboxylate superplasticizer helps improve the early and late strength of concrete. This makes the concrete using this water-reducing agent generally more substantial than the benchmark concrete specimens at all ages, thereby improving the overall load-bearing capacity and durability of the bridge.
Improve the durability of concrete: The polycarboxylate superplasticizer has low chloride ion content and low alkali content, which is beneficial for improving the durability of concrete. This helps extend the life of the bridge and decreases the frequency of repairs and replacements.
Environmental protection characteristics: The production process of polycarboxylic acid superplasticizer is pollution-free, does not contain formaldehyde, and complies with international standards for environmental protection management. Compared with traditional naphthalene-based water-reducing agents, it is more environmentally friendly and conforms to the concept of sustainable development.
Strong adaptability: Polycarboxylate superplasticizer has good compatibility with various types of cement and has little impact on concrete raw materials such as sand, stone, cement, etc. This enables it to maintain good working performance under different engineering environments and climate conditions.
TRUNNANO is a supplier of concrete polycarboxylate superplasticizer, which is concrete and relative products with over 12 years experience in nano-building energy conservation and nanotechnology development. It accepts payment via Credit Card, T/T, West Union and Paypal. Trunnano will ship the goods to customers overseas through FedEx, DHL, by air, or by sea. If you are looking for high quality concrete polycarboxylate superplasticizer, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. (sales@cabr-concrete.com).
On October 17, 1989, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurred in San Francisco, causing severe damage to the Bay Bridge. Let's learn about the post-earthquake reinforcement of the West Bridge and the reconstruction of the East Bridge of the Bay Bridge. Concrete additives became a significant role in this event.
Seismic reinforcement of the West Bridge
After the earthquake, the West Bridge underwent comprehensive seismic reinforcement and reconstruction. Most of the steel structure supporting the bridge deck was replaced by bolted steel plates from the original riveted lattice, and the lattice beams were transformed into box beams. The large inclined beams on the outer layer of the cable tower are equipped with panels, making the appearance more beautiful. Box-type inclined beams are installed on the sides of the upper and lower decks to reduce the relative movement of the upper and lower decks during earthquakes and reduce the chance of damage to the bridge deck. During the construction period, the bridge was not closed, and vehicles were usually able to pass.
The giant concrete bearings of the West Bridge could crack under specific pressures, so the bearings were also specially strengthened, with a new layer of reinforced concrete added to the surface.
East Bridge Reconstruction
When the earthquake occurred, a 15-meter-long truss pavement collapsed onto the lower bridge deck on the upper deck above the E9 pier of the East Bridge, killing one person. The bridge was closed for a month for repairs and then reopened. In fact, considering the damage to the East Bridge, building a new bridge is the best option.
The design plan of the new bridge went through many revisions until it was completed. It took 24 years, and the project budget and bidding prices also soared. With an initial funding of $250 million and a final cost of $7.2 billion, the reconstruction of the Bay Bridge's East Bridge became the most costly public works project in California history.
The final design plan is that the front section of the East Bridge will be a self-anchored suspension bridge, and the rear section will be a viaduct. The reconstructed bridge is a single-story structure. The steel materials for the bridge towers and important steel structures of the East Bridge are all provided by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries. The new bridge is 78.74 meters wide and has ten lanes. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the world's widest bridge.
An independent bicycle lane has been set up on the south side of the new bridge, connecting Yingcao Island, Treasure Island, and Auckland City. Office workers use it to commute. Residents and tourists can also ride in their leisure time to enjoy the bay scenery.
On the afternoon of September 2, 2013, the world's largest single-tower self-anchored and earthquake-resistant suspension steel bridge and the new eastern section of the San Francisco Bay Bridge in the US were opened to traffic. On September 8, 2018, the old bridge was demolished.
Concrete plays an important role in bridge repair
Structural reinforcement: Concrete is used for the reinforcement and repair of bridges, which can enhance the structural strength and stability of the bridge. By increasing the thickness of concrete in critical areas or using high-strength concrete, the load-bearing capacity of the bridge can be improved, and cracks and deformations can be prevented.
Durability improvements: By repairing defects and cracks in the concrete surface, the life of the bridge can be extended. Waterproofing concrete and enhancing its corrosion resistance can improve its durability and prevent premature aging and damage.
Enhanced connectivity: Concrete can be used in bridge repairs to improve connectivity between individual components. By filling cracks and increasing contact surfaces, the integrity of the bridge can be improved to ensure that all parts work together.
Anti-skid treatment: Concrete surface treatment plays a vital role in improving the anti-skid performance of bridges. By adding anti-skid particles or using anti-skid textures, the friction of the bridge deck can be enhanced, and the risk of vehicle skidding can be reduced.
Aesthetic value: Concrete repair can also improve the bridge's aesthetic appearance. By repairing damaged exteriors, polishing, and beautifying, the bridge's aesthetics can be improved and add beauty to the urban landscape.
Supplier
TRUNNANO is a supplier of concrete additives, which is concrete and relative products with over 12 years experience in nano-building energy conservation and nanotechnology development. It accepts payment via Credit Card, T/T, West Union and Paypal. Trunnano will ship the goods to customers overseas through FedEx, DHL, by air, or by sea. If you are looking for high quality concrete additives, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. (sales@cabr-concrete.com).
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In order to safely send astronauts to Mars and build a base for them to live in, NASA held a 3D printing Mars habitat design competition. One of the participating teams in this competition recently, a research team led by Gianluca Cusatis, associate professor at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, came up with a hypothetical plan. They are trying to build these bases on Mars using sulfur concrete made from materials.
"Ordinary sulfur concrete has fine aggregate added to it, and the sulfur in our Martian sulfur concrete will react with minerals in the Martian soil," Cusatis said. Researchers are also trying to improve the fire resistance of this sulfur concrete To ensure that it can be used safely on Mars.
Sulfur concrete is a thermoplastic material, and its construction method is entirely different from that of ordinary concrete. Sulfur is the cementing material of sulfur concrete, with a melting point of 112.8°C. It mainly uses a heated pouring molding process. In addition, due to the high price of sulfur, it has not been widely used.
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In 2021, researchers pointed out that since building materials cannot be transported from the Earth to Mars, humans might as well use local materials to produce concrete-like materials directly on the surface of Mars.
It would cost more than £1 million to transport a brick to Mars, making future Martian settlements prohibitively expensive. On September 13, local time, scientists from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom published an article in the magazine "Materials-Biology Today" saying that they have designed a solution that can reduce the cost of Mars immigration - combining space dust, astronauts' blood, and sweat Combined with tears to create materials. This concrete-like material is ideal for construction in extraterrestrial environments.
When it comes to Mars missions, people often focus on the loose rocks and Martian soil on Mars. In fact, astronauts themselves are also a need for more resources. Researchers have confirmed that human serum albumin can be used as a binder to simulate lunar or Martian dust to create a new concrete-like material called AstroCrete. The compressive strength of AstroCrete is as high as 25MPa, which is roughly equivalent to the compressive strength of ordinary concrete (20~32MPa). The researchers studied the potential bonding mechanism and confirmed that after the blood protein is denatured, it forms an interactive "beta sheet" extended structure with the simulated soil, which tightly binds the entire material together.
Subsequently, researchers discovered that mixing urea into AstroCrete can increase the compressive strength to about 40MPa, far exceeding that of ordinary concrete. Urea is a biological waste product excreted by humans through urine, sweat, and tears.
Dr. Aled Roberts, a researcher at the University of Manchester, said the new technology has clear advantages compared with other lunar/martian construction technologies. He said: "Scientists have been working hard to develop feasible technologies to produce concrete-like materials on the surface of Mars. Finally, we found that the answer lies in the human body." Based on the calculation results, six astronauts performed a two-year mission on the surface of Mars. During the mission, more than 500 kilograms of high-strength AstroCrete can be produced. With proper planning, each successive mission could double the number of available Martian housing.
TRUNNANO is a supplier of concrete superplasticizer, which is concrete and relative products with over 12 years experience in nano-building energy conservation and nanotechnology development. It accepts payment via Credit Card, T/T, West Union and Paypal. Trunnano will ship the goods to customers overseas through FedEx, DHL, by air, or by sea. If you are looking for high quality concrete superplasticizer, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. (sales@cabr-concrete.com).
Concrete is a seemingly ordinary but indispensable material. Its appearance changed how humans build and became the cornerstone of modern architecture. Recently, American scientists have developed the next generation of concrete that can conduct electricity and be embedded with smart devices. In addition to being stronger and more environmentally friendly, metamaterial concrete has more "special" advantages for developing smart civil infrastructure systems.
Concrete dates back to the Roman Empire and remains the most widely used material in the construction industry. Engineers at the University of Pittsburgh have brought concrete into the 21st century by reimagining its design.
Amir Alavin, anassistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, said: "Modern society has used concrete, which the ancient Romans invented, in construction for hundreds of years. The extensive use of concrete in our infrastructure projects requires the development of a new generation of concrete materials. Such materials are more economical, environmentally sustainable, and offer advanced functionality. Introducing a metamaterial paradigm to develop building materials can achieve these goals.
The team has previously developed new materials, self-aware metamaterials, which are both sensing media and nanogenerators, which are expected to change the application of multifunctional materials, and the team is now applying the metamaterials to concrete. This research introduces the use of metamaterials in making concrete, allowing materials to be specifically designed for their purpose. Features such as brittleness, adaptability, and formability can be fine-tuned throughout the material's production procedure, permitting builders to utilize less material without compromising strength or longevity.
"This task demonstrates the initial composite metamaterial concrete with ultra-compressibility and energy harvesting capabilities. This lightweight, mechanically tunable concrete system can blaze a trail for using concrete in many applications, such as in airports. Shock-absorbing engineered materials to help slow down an out-of-control airplane or quake base isolation systems." In addition, the product can generate electrical power, and while it does not create sufficient electrical energy to power the grid, the signal it creates suffices to power roadside sensors. The electric signals that metamaterial concrete generates under mechanical excitation can likewise be used to keep track of damage within concrete structures or earthquakes while reducing the effect on buildings.
The metamaterial comprises a reinforced auxiliary polymer lattice in a conductive cement matrix. The researchers formed the electrodes from conductive cement reinforced with graphite powder, and a mechanical trigger produced contact electrification between the layers. The composite structure between each layer causes contact electrification whenever triggered mechanically. The team also used graphite powder to enhance the conductive adhesive and serve as an electrode. Speculative research shows that the material can be pressed by up to 15% under cyclic loading, producing 330 μW power.
It won't generate enough power to send to the grid. Still, it could be used to monitor damage inside concrete structures, such as shock-absorbing engineered materials at airports to help slow down out-of-control aircraft or earthquake-based isolation systems.
The team also pointed out that this kind of concrete smart structure can even power chips in the road. In the future, self-driving vehicles can continue to drive when the GPS signal is too weak, and the lidar is not running.
Physically, the metamaterial can be fine-tuned to suit construction needs, switching its flexibility, shape, and brittleness, and in tests, it can be compressed up to 15% while maintaining its structural integrity.
Allawi said this project proposes the first composite metamaterial concrete with super compressibility and energy harvesting capabilities. "This lightweight and mechanically tunable concrete system could open the door to using concrete in various applications." Gates, such as airports, shock-absorbing engineered materials to help slow down runaway aircraft or earthquake base isolation systems."
The team, which includes engineers from New Mexico State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, and Pitt's Swanson School of Engineering, believes the versatile concrete material could become a widely used component in infrastructure. Because it is "scalable, cost-effective, and can self-sustain its operations through green harvesting of energy."
This metamaterial concrete will also be used on Pennsylvania roads through the IRISE Alliance of the University of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). This smart engineering product could even power chips embedded in highways to assist self-driving cars.
However, the research reports the need for large-scale testing and further research into how energy-harvesting nanogenerator-integrated materials can be insulated from environmental stressors such as humidity, humid weather, and temperature changes.
TRUNNANO is a supplier of Superplasticizer in Concrete, which is concrete and relative products with over 12 years experience in nano-building energy conservation and nanotechnology development. It accepts payment via Credit Card, T/T, West Union and Paypal. Trunnano will ship the goods to customers overseas through FedEx, DHL, by air, or by sea. If you are looking for high quality Water-reduced Agent in Concrete, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. (sales@cabr-concrete.com).
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