Meet Board Member Kevin McMullen:
When the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center (CPTech Center)‘s Executive Board of Directors considers which initiatives can make the greatest impact, the voices of professionals working in the concrete industry are important to hear. A state’s concrete paving association is generally its go-to organization for contractors needing training for their crews or advice on particular projects. Association staff have their finger on the pulse of contractors’ everyday frustrations and are familiar with the state’s most challenging projects and most innovative solutions. American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) chapter/state representatives are thus vital on the CP Tech Center Executive Board of Directors.
Kevin McMullen, President-Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association (WCPA) is one of the vital Directors of the CP Tech Board. McMullen holds a civil engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. McMullen has worked for the WCPA since 1995, and became President in 1998. He led a major membership development drive, which resulted in 40+ new members joining the association in all categories, and has served as Chairman of the ACPA Chapter/State Committee two times. Before joining WCPA, McMullen worked as Pavement Engineering Supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).
The CP Tech Center welcomes Kevin McMullin to its Executive Board and to its mission of expediting the transfer of scientific research and proven technology relating to the design, construction, and preservation of concrete pavements and bridge decks. The Executive Board of Directors provides outstanding guidance in business operations, including management and finances. The Board’s 17 members include representatives of organizations that provide substantial financial support. For the CP Tech Board of Directors Webpage, please go to: https://cptechcenter.org/executive-board-of-directors/
2020 Holiday VIRTUAL Meetings, Webinars, Lunch & Learns … Local & ‘Traveling’:
While COVID has reshaped travel for the Concrete Pavement Technology Center (CP Tech Center) in almost every way, the traditional lighter travel schedule associated with the holiday season did not ring true for the 2020 Holiday Season. VIRTUAL meetings made it easier to attend many more multiple meetings than usual during the 2020 Holiday season, especially as ‘traveling’ meetings were all virtual … allowing the CP Tech Center continued service in the field of concrete paving!
December 2ⁿᵈ, 2020:
IOWA BETTER CONCRETE CONFERENCE:
“The Future of Fly Ash: Dystopia or Hysteria?”
Larry Sutter, Materials Science & Engineering-Michigan Technological University
A LOCAL event that went virtual for 2020. Larry presented as part of the Iowa Better Concrete Conference organized by the CP Tech Center. With coal-fired power plants closing, fly ash supplies are becoming challenged in some markets. This talk will discuss trends in fly ash supply and quality and will discuss other materials that can be used in place of fly ash in concrete:
Background:
• One key property from concrete: Longevity
• Service demands have increased
• Use of aggressive deicing chemicals
• Increased expectations for reduced environmentalimpact and lower initial and lifecycle costs
• SCMs assist meeting these goals
Definitions:
• Cementitious material, supplementary, (SCM)
• Cementitious material (hydraulic)
VIDEO Presentation (2020, then scroll down to #4 “The Future of Fly Ash…”): https://cptechcenter.org/past-events/iowa-better-concrete-conference/
PRINTED Presentation: https://intrans.iastate.edu/app/uploads/sites/7/2020/12/Fly-Ash_Sutter_BCC_Handout-_12-2-20.pdf
December 8ᵗʰ–10ᵗʰ, 2020:
EVERY DAY COUNTS (EDC-6) SUMMIT:
“Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions (TOPS)“
The one national agency event around the holidays in which the CP Tech Center participated in was the virtual Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)‘s EDC-6 Summit. John Adam, Program Manager-CP Tech Center, served as concrete overlays subject matter expert, responding to questions and providing comments. The Summit consisted of two 4-hour breakout sessions on the Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions (TOPS) initiative.
Topics included:
DAY 1:
Engaging People
Engaging People with “6-minute pitch” of STIC homegrown ideas
3 Breakout Sessions with Q&A
PRESENTATIONS:
Planning and Engineering Roadshow
District Resource for Informative & Voluntary Exchange (DRIVE)
Using Social Media to Share Timely and Relevant Information
Communicate Lessons, Exchange Advice, Record (CLEAR-KM)
Webinar Wednesdays
Lean Everyday Ideas
360 Interactive Project Tour
DAY 2:
Deploying Product
Deploying Products with “6-minute pitch” of STIC homegrown ideas
2 Breakout Sessions with Q&A
PRESENTATIONS:
Performance-Based Planning
Wrong Way Vehicle Detection
Hitch-Mounted Message Signs
Cable Rail Repair Kit
Metal Pipe Banding Tool
Work Zone Database
DAY 3:
Improving Processe
Improving Processes with “6-minute pitch” of STIC homegrown ideas
2 Breakout Sessions with Q&A
PRESENTAIONS:
Cloud-based PS&E reviews
Quantities to Plans (Q2P)
Service Life Design in Contracts
Risk Based Inspection
Risk Based Construction Admin
Innovative Ideas Contest
Guardrail Ends Education/Training
EDC-6 Summit available ONLINE: www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc_6/summit.cfm
December 11ᵗʰ, 2020:
IOWA CONCRETE LUNCH & LEARN:
“PEM and Reduced Cement Pavement Mixes in Iowa”
Todd Hanson, PCC Materials Engineer–Iowa DOT
Dan King, Concrete Research and Design Director–Iowa Concrete Paving Association (ICPA)
FHWA Trailer Visit. Click to enlarge.
Presentation:
• Overview of PEM Program
• Iowa Paving Mixes and PEM Interest
• FHWA Trailer Visit
• PEM Shadow Testing 2019
• I-29 Harrison County Project PEM
• Future Outlook for PEM
Presentation “PEM and Reduced Cement Paving Mixes in Iowa”: https://intrans.iastate.edu/app/uploads/sites/7/2020/12/PEM-and-Reduced-Cement-Paving-Mixes-in-Iowa_v2.4.pdf
Lunch & Learn Webpage: https://cptechcenter.org/events/concrete-lunch-and-learn/
December 14ᵗʰ, 2020:
American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) STRATEGIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING:
Peter Taylor, Director-CP Tech Center, participated
December 15ᵗʰ, 2020:
CONCRETE PAVEMENT TECHNOLOGY TUESDAY WEBINAR SERIES:
“Concrete Pavement Thickness Design and Slab Geometry“
Tyler Speakmon, CEMEX and Tommy Nantung, Indiana DOT
The CP Tech Center continued its webinar series, beginning 2021
with #1 of 10. Presentations covered:
• Review of Pavement Design History & Pavement Types
• Distresses Related to Pavement/Slab Geometry
• Compare AASHTO 93 vs Pavement ME Designs
• Incorporating Slab Geometry into Design Tools
• Using Slab Geometry to Control Cracking Mechanisms
—Thickness
—Joint Spacing
—Widened Lanes
• Additional Design Considerations and Jointing
• Indiana Experience
VIDEO Presentation: https://cptechcenter.org/webinars-and-videos/#best
PRINTED Presentations: https://intrans.iastate.edu/app/uploads/sites/7/2021/01/Speakmon-Thickness-Handout-12-2020.pdf
PRINTED Indiana Experience: https://intrans.iastate.edu/app/uploads/sites/7/2021/01/Nantung-Thickness-Handout-12-2020.pdf
IOWA BETTER CONCRETE CONFERENCE—Last WEBINAR: 5 of 5:
Click to enlarge.
“A Scale of Two Cities“
Dan Goldsworth and Mark Stinocher, both of Project Bluejay;
Jordan Stokes and Nick Aldrich, both of Krause Gateway Center
This presentation highlighted the use of concrete in two unique projects—each complex in its own way. The team talked about their approach to these two very different projects including:
• Innovations
• Successes
• Lessons learned
—Krause Gateway Center in Des Moines, Iowa:
Krause required extensive collaboration with the design team to achieve high-end finishes.
—Project Bluejay in Bondurant, Iowa:
Project Bluejay’s scale and accelerated schedule presented their team with many new challenges.
VIDEO Presentation (scroll to #5 on down arrow list): https://cptechcenter.org/past-events/iowa-better-concrete-conference/
PRINTED Presentation: https://intrans.iastate.edu/app/uploads/sites/7/2020/12/Handout_BCC4_12-16-20.pdf
January 8ᵗʰ, 2020:
IOWA CONCRETE LUNCH & LEARN:
“PCC Overlays: Fabric and Fiber“
Dan King again co-presented, this time with
Tom Cackler, Principal Engineer-Woodland Consulting, Inc.
This presentation examined use of Geotextile fabric interlayers for separation and fiber reinforcement.
Background – International Practice and US Practice:
• > 40 years of use by German Engineers
• Geotextile fabrics have been used as a separation layer between:
—Full-depth concrete pavements and stiff cement treated bases
—Concrete overlays over rubblized or crack & seated pavements (not common US practice)
• The current specification in the US was based upon the German Specification
• 2006 International Technology Scanning Program (FHWA , AASHTO, & NCHRP)
• Identified the technology as potential beneficial for concrete overlay applications
• Recommended evaluation as an alternative to HMA
Link: https://intrans.iastate.edu/app/uploads/sites/7/2021/01/49_Fabric-and-Fiber_Jan-8-2021.pdf
Lunch & Learn Webpage: https://cptechcenter.org/concrete-lunch-and-learn/
ISCP Home page photo from presentation:
Lunch and Learn: “PCC Overlays Fabric and Fiber” January 8, 2021