4 ms·
I was just talking to a friend a week ago who is pretty deeply interested in concrete. A Civil engineer who had been considering physics research before eventua
by uxp100 5y ago
I was just talking to a friend a week ago who is pretty deeply interested in concrete. A Civil engineer who had been considering physics research before eventually ending up taking the civil route. A few years of “designing” bridges (they tend to be all about the same, for good reason) and he remains pretty fascinated by the materials and how much room remains (he thinks) for innovation in a very old material, but you know, is a little sick of the day to day.
Any tips for what exists out there in the world of “exciting” concrete? Talking to him he didn’t have too much idea what even existed for research, or if civil/physics was an appropriate background for working at least close to research in concrete.
- plaidfuji 5y agoAs far as I’m aware “aerated concrete” is the next step up in concrete tech: https://www.buildinggreen.com/news-article/autoclaved-aerated-concrete-aac-will-us-ever-lighten https://www.buildinggreen.com/news-article/autoclaved-aerate... It’s lighter, less energy intensive, better insulator, basically just by inserting bubbles into the structure. Widely used in Europe but not adopted by the US because lumber is cheap and we don’t have any established manufacturers.
- coryrc 5y agoThat and lumber is stored carbon while concrete releases CO2 (at least for now).