The association between moisture-related microbial growth (mesophilic fungi and bacteria) within insulated exterior walls and microbial concentrations in the indoor air was studied. The studied apartment buildings with precast concrete external walls were situated in a subarctic zone. Actinomycetes in the insulation layer were found to have increased concentrations in the indoor air. The moistu...

Page 1 UT students placed very well in the 2012 Big Beam Contest, with one team earning first place in the Zone 2 and national competitions. The Big Beam Contest is organized by the Precast/ Prestressed Concrete Institute's (PCI) Student Education Committee, and sponsored by Sika Corp. The contest consists of a zone competition and a national competition. First place winners of each zone, along...

This document details a rationalisation study on the production of shop-prefabricated parts supported by simulation to analyse potential operating alternatives. The goal was quite specific: to improve productivity and so reduce production costs. Since the study was carried out while the workshop was fully operational, no changes that would have involved stoppages in workshop production could be...

This paper discusses the long-term behavior of a series of highly-loaded, spun concrete pole specimens prestressed with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) tendons, which were subjected to outdoor four-point bending creep tests since 1996 in the frame of collaboration with the Swiss precast concrete producer, SACAC (Società Anonima Cementi Armati Centrifugati). The 2 m span cylindrical beams...

The most used connection form for reinforced steel bars is the grouting sleeve using cement-based materials. Hence, quality of determines whether performance a precast concrete structure equivalent to that cast in situ structure. However, several existing reasons, namely, insufficient cement or poor construction controls and even stochastic bubble holes, lead inevitable defects. behavior struct...