Founded in 2000, the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center (CP Tech Center) is a national hub for concrete pavement research and technology transfer focused on the intersection of academic, industry, and agency needs. Via research, publications, and tech transfer products, the CP Tech Center has been instrumental in advancing strategic improvements in how concrete pavements are specified, built, and maintained. The CP Tech Center service to the concrete paving community over the past month has included a hybrid of online and face-to-face interactions. Though COVID remains with us, CP Tech Center staff are continuing to serve the concrete paving industry not only online but also again on the road.
July 20th:
VIRTUAL MID-YEAR MEETING
Gordon Smith provided a CP Tech Center activity update at the virtual mid-year meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) AKC50 Concrete Pavement Construction Committee.
July 27:
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
Performance-engineered mixtures (PEM)s have been a key topic of discussion, beginning with Peter Taylor, Director-CP Tech Center, Associate Director Gordon Smith, Associate Director-CP Tech Center, and Jerod Gross, Technology Transfer Engineer-CP Tech Center, who presented an overview of PEM to members of the Arkansas DOT (ARDOT). Attendees included representatives from ARDOT‘s materials, construction, and research divisions. Discussion focused on limitations of the
• Slump Test
• Advantages of mixture prequalification testing
• Review and improvements to state specifications
• Applicability of PEM to bridge decks
• Importance of quality control
August 10:
WEBINAR (from NORTH CAROLINA)
On the topic of resiliency, Greg Dean, Carolinas Concrete Paving Association-ACPA/SE, shared with 245 participants in the CP Tech Center‘s Concrete Pavement Technology Tuesday webinar on how “Proper Resiliency Planning Prevents Disaster and Aids in Crisis Management—A Concrete Perspective.”
For VIDEO, click on either below, or go to: https://cptechcenter.org/webinars-and-videos/?utm_source=CP+Tech+Center&utm_campaign=809560c955-RESOURCES+Newsletter+March–April+2021_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_07a32343e1-809560c955-169971045#featured:
Click to view Greg Dean’s Presentation
August 18:
ASCP ONLINE CONFERENCE
Peter Taylor joined (from Iowa) the Australian Society for Concrete Pavements’ Annual Conference (ASCP) held online (from Australia) to present about construction and the effects of vibration on concrete mixtures.
August 23 to 24:
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Gordon Smith, Bob Conway, FHWA, and Tom Van Dam, NCE, visited Nashville, Tennessee, to share about PEM again, this time with over 20 engineers from the Tennessee DOT (TDOT) headquarters and regional offices from the TDOT divisions of materials and tests, operations, and structures.
OVER 2 DAYS:
DAY 1:
• A PEM overview along with discussion of reasons for change
• AASHTO PP 84 specification, science and testing
DAY 2 in particular provided:
• A great opportunity for open discussion on items specific to the department
• Conversation on applying PEM in practice as it relates to quality, training, and implementation
August 25:
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
Steve Tritsch, CP Tech Center Associate Director shared CP Tech Center activity and project updates with around 160 participants at the Arkansas Concrete Pavement Conference. The Oklahoma/Arkansas ACPA chapter staff and volunteers organizing this event, held in person in Little Rock, Ar. All took to heart the safety of exhibitors and attendees by arranging for social distancing during presentations, meals, and breaks.
August 25 to 27:
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Gordon Smith joined concrete industry friends at the PCA Promotion Forum in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss various initiatives surrounding concrete as a sustainable and resilient solution for buildings and transportation infrastructure.
Though COVID remains with us, CP Tech Center staff are continuing to serve the concrete paving industry not only online but also again on the road.
For more information, go to CPTech website: https://cptechcenter.org