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