Title:
An Investigation of Low-Strength CMU
Author(s):
Hugh Wang, Chenqing Qi, Waltter Lopez, and Bill Goodloe
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
29
Issue:
11
Appears on pages(s):
53-57
Keywords:
calorimetry; concrete masonry unit; contamination; hydration
DOI:
Date:
11/1/2007
Abstract:
A concrete masonry unit (CMU) producer recently reported that a batch of their products developed little or no strength and were easily broken during handling. The producer’s staff claimed to have used the same material sources and production processes employed successfully with previous batches. To find the cause of the problem, samples of the defective CMU were examined, and hydration of the cement was investigated using calorimetry tests. Lessons learned from the investigation are presented.