The Directorate of Public Works (DPW), in collaboration with the Cement Council of Texas (CCT), hosted the Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) Engineer Learning Professional Development Symposium on June 23, 2024. The event aimed to showcase the enduring qualities and applications of RCC, particularly the 40-year-old RCC pavement at Fort Cavazos, writes Eric Von Franklin for the U.S. Army. The symposium attracted engineers and military personnel keen to learn about RCC’s durability and quick implementation.
Andrew Pinkerton, CCT’s executive director, emphasized the importance of concrete in construction, whether for mission-critical projects or everyday applications. He expressed excitement about inspecting the 40-year-old RCC pavement, originally laid in 1983, which has withstood the test of time and heavy military use. Participants were eager to witness the minimal maintenance needs and robustness of the material firsthand.
Ron Harris, the original builder of the RCC pavement, and Capt. Shawn Tham, a combat engineer from the 1st Cavalry Division, shared their perspectives on RCC’s longevity and benefits. Tham highlighted RCC’s potential for quick repairs of craters caused by dropped ordnance, noting its efficiency in reducing construction time and minimizing equipment requirements. He praised the pavement’s durability, which remains strong despite being subjected to the increasing weight of military equipment.
Barry Bozio from the Fort Cavazos DPW Engineering Division underscored the lasting impact and future potential of RCC. He called on the new generation of engineers to recognize RCC’s value, citing its cost-effectiveness and quick usability. Bozio stressed that RCC allows traffic within hours of placement, a significant advantage over traditional concrete, which requires days to cure. The symposium served as a reminder of RCC’s resilience and potential for future infrastructure projects.
Read more here: https://www.army.mil/article/277949/40_year_old_concrete_stands_test_of_time