Research Laboratory

NRMCA Research Lab Brochure | Laboratory Testing

Laboratory Goals

• Conduct applied research for the benefit of the concrete industry
• Conduct contract testing, and provide consultative assistance to the concrete industry

Laboratory Credentials

• Inspected by Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL)
• Accredited by the AASHTO Accreditation Program (AAP)

Laboratory Facility

• 5000 square foot all tilt-up concrete building with extensive outdoor test area
• Moist room, 100°F, 140°F controlled rooms, 70°F/50% Relative Humidity room
• Classroom area, concrete mixing area, aggregate processing area, ovens

Laboratory Address

5600 Branchville Road, College Park, MD 20740
Email: Lab Manager Stuart Sherman, (703) 706-4873
Phone: (301) 728-5455

Here are some of the problems we can help you solve

• Interpreting Concrete Specifications
• Optimizing Concrete Mixtures for Durability, Sustainability and other Requirements
• Material/Product Evaluation
• Improving Concrete Quality including Testing Quality
• Complying with codes and standards influencing ready mixed concrete
• Performance based Specifications
• Developing a quality plan for producing ready mixed concrete

Members receive a 40% discount, lending significant savings.

For more information or quotes please contact Stuart Sherman, 703-706-4873

Selected Past Research Projects

• Tests on concrete admixtures (1945-1959)
• Fly ash in concrete (1954)
• Portland blast furnace slag cement in concrete (1959)
• Core tests of in-place concrete (1960)
• Effect of sand particle shape on concrete properties (1961-1970)
• Drying shrinkage of concrete (1962)
• Effect of curing on compressive strength of concrete (1969)
• Truck mixer studies for batching sequence and mixing variations (1970-75)
• Uniformity of fly ash from a single source (1988)
• Testing of more than 150 aggregate sources nationwide for alkali aggregate reactions (1994, 1998)
• Use of plastic returned concrete in ready mixed concrete (1995)
• Use of wash water in ready mixed concrete (1997)

Selected Past Achievements in Standards Development

• ASTM C94 criteria on the reuse of mixer wash water
• Use of 4×8 in. cylinders for strength testing (ASTM C39)
• Precision statement for the AASHTO microwave oven test
• Tolerance requirements for high strength concrete testing (ASTM C39)
• Proper use of pad caps for compressive strength (ASTM C1231)
• Modified moisture conditioning of cores (ASTM C42)

“Recipient of 1998 Arthur R. Anderson Award, American Concrete Institute”

Selected Recent Research Projects

• Crushed returned concrete as aggregate
• Optimizing cementitious content in concrete mixtures
• Higher fly ash concrete with acceptable performance
• New permeability tests and performance criteria
• Pervious concrete mixture proportioning
• Effect of continuous (well-graded) aggregate grading

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Research Reports

1. A Limited Performance Evaluation of Natural Pozzolans Using the Bulk Resistivity Test (PDF)
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2. Improving the Reliability of Resistivity Tests of Concrete (PDF)
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3. Evaluation of ASTM Standard Practice on Measuring the Electrical Resistance of Fresh Concrete (PDF) September 2017
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4. Evaluation of Chloride Limits for Reinforced Concrete Phase A. (PDF) July 2017
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5. Optimizing Concrete Mixtures for Performance and Sustainability (PDF) September 2015
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6. An Evaluation of Performance-Based Alternatives to the Durability Provisions of the ACI 318 Building Code (PDF) January 2015
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7. Greatly Increased Use of Fly Ash in Hydraulic Cement Concrete (HCC) for Pavement Layers and Transportation Structures (PDF) March 2012
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8. New Technology-Based Approach to Advance Higher Volume Fly Ash Concrete with Acceptable Performance:Guide for the Construction Team (PDF) October 2008 (Guide Issue Date)
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9. New Technology-Based Approach to Advance Higher Volume Fly Ash Concrete with Acceptable Performance (PDF) August 2008 (Final Report)
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10. Crushed Returned Concrete as Aggregates for New Concrete (PDF)
    Report to the RMC Research & Education Foundation, September 2007
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11. Effect of Continuous (Well-Graded) Combined Aggregate Grading on Concrete Performance, Phase A:  Aggregate Voids Content (Packing Density) (PDF) May 2007
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12. Effect of Continuous (Well-Graded) Combined Aggregate Grading on Concrete Performance, Phase B:  Concrete Performance (PDF) May 2007
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13. Experimental Case Study Demonstrating the Advantages of Performance Specifications (PDF) Report to the RMC Research & Education Foundation, January 2006
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14. Establishing a Center for Concrete Research (PDF)
    Concrete InFocus

Innovation

From time to time the NRMCA laboratory will perform a limited evaluation of innovative materials, or tools. This is not a comprehensive evaluation and the results are applicable only for the materials evaluated. The published reports should not be taken as an endorsement for any product.

1. Ground Glass Pozzolan
2. Nanocatalyst