Summary
Concrete demands energy and natural resources, a careful design approach, and ongoing maintenance once it is put in place. In this way it is unlike many other structural and finish materials—yet it maintains a special reputation for strength, durability, flexibility, and sustainability. These associations and a host of other factors have made it one of the most widely used building materials globally in just one century. Take this free AIA/CES course from Building Design+Construction and earn 1.0 AIA learning unit.
What you will learn
After reading this article, you should be able to:
* Describe the various uses and applications of concrete in commercial building.
* List the various types of materials and admixtures found in concrete mixes, including supplementary cementitious materials, or SCMs.
* Understand how concrete specification affects such construction methods as pumping, placing, and forming.
* Explain the advantages and applications of such methods as tilt-up, ICFs, and precast concrete for building construction and operations.
Take this free AIA course at:
http://www.bdcuniversity.com/building-concrete-design-and-construction-techniques?courseid=1639
Related Stories
| May 17, 2013
5 things AEC pros need to know about low-e glass
Low-emissivity glasses are critical to making today’s buildings brighter, more energy-efficient, and more sustainable. Here are five tips to help AEC professionals understand the differences among low-e glasses and their impact on building performance.
| May 14, 2013
Paints and coatings: The latest trends in sustainability
When it comes to durability, a 50-year building design ideally should include 50-year coatings. Many building products consume substantial amounts of energy, water, and petrochemicals during manufacture, but they can make up for it in the operations phase. The same should be expected from architectural coatings.
| May 9, 2013
10 high-efficiency plumbing fixtures
From a "no sweat" toilet to a deep-well lavatory, here's a round up of the latest high-efficiency plumbing fixtures.
| May 3, 2013
5 common failures in paints and coatings
As experienced designers, contractors, and owners know, most paint and coating problems are correctable, but some are especially stubborn to address. Here is a partial compendium of typical failure modes and methods for addressing the problem.
| May 3, 2013
Another edible city? Artist creates model city with chewing gum
French artist Jeremy Laffon pieced together a model city with thousands of sticks of mint-green chewing gum.
| Apr 26, 2013
BASF Corporation joins WDMA
The Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) announced today that the BASF Corporation is the newest member of the association.
| Apr 23, 2013
Building material innovation: Concrete cloth simplifies difficult pours
Milliken recently debuted a flexible fabric that allows for concrete installations on slopes, in water, and in other hard to reach places—without the need for molds or mixing.
| Apr 16, 2013
5 projects that profited from insulated metal panels
From an orchid-shaped visitor center to California’s largest public works project, each of these projects benefited from IMP technology.
