Chunyu Qiao and DRP, a Twining Company
The construction of concrete pavements can see unexpected events that require contractors to verify the quality and durability of the in-place concrete. Such events include exposure to rain during placement, late applications of curing compounds, plastic shrinkage cracking hours within hours of the placement, and problems texturing and curing the concrete. Even when strength requirements and other material tests are satisfied, engineers may call for the removal and replacement of sections of pavement over concerns regarding the compliance of in-place material with mix design specifications. In such cases, petrography and other complementary (but specialized) test methods can provide important information on the quality and durability of concrete mixtures and their compliance with job specifications.