Since 1928, NRMCA's Research Laboratory
has been a forerunner in testing and research by establishing technical
standards for the industry. Now located in College Park, MD, near the
campus of the University of Maryland, the lab has been involved with a
number of leading industry research projects.
Laboratory Goals
Conduct applied
research, training for concrete industry
Partner with qualified
research organizations to leverage resources and expertise
Provide a site for
concrete promotional events and demonstrate innovative concrete
technologies
For a list of tests conducted at the lab,
click here.
External
Funding Agencies
RMC Research
Foundation
Portland Cement
Association
Federal Highway
Administration
US Department of
Energy
How can
you participate?
Utilize NRMCA research
reports and articles
Suggest research ideas
through RES Committee
Utilize laboratory for
technical advice and services
Recent
Projects (2004~2007)
Advantages of
Performance Specifications - Lab Study
Effect of Continuous
(well-graded) Aggregate Grading
Crushed Returned
Concrete as Aggregates
Higher Fly Ash Concrete
with Acceptable Performance
New Permeability Tests
and Criteria as Alternatives to Durability Provisions of Codes,
Specifications
Concrete Setting Times
Using Thermal Signatures
Non Standard Curing
and Concrete Performance
Past
Achievements
ASTM C 94 criteria on
batching, mixing, delivery time
ASTM C 94 criteria on
reuse of mixer wash water
Use of 4 x 8"
cylinders for strength testing (ASTM C 39)
Modified moisture
conditioning of cores in the Code
1998 - Arthur R.
Anderson Award, by ACI
Research
Partners
University of
Maryland, College Park
Middle Tennessee State
University
Concrete Industry
Management Schools
Purdue University
Auburn University
Dr. Nick Carino, NIST
(retired)
CTLGroup, Skokie, IL
Contact Us
Karthik
Obla, Managing Director, Research and Materials,
Engineering: (240)485-1163;
kobla@nrmca.org
Colin Lobo,
Senior Vice President, Engineering: (240)485-1160;
clobo@nrmca.org
Haejin Kim,
Laboratory Manager, Engineering: (240)485-1170;
hkim@nrmca.org
Establishing a Center
for Concrete Research, Concrete inFocus -
click here.
Research articles:
1.Obla, Karthik, “Does Well Graded
Aggregates Aid Concrete Performance?”,
Concrete International (in preparation).
2.Obla,
Karthik, Lobo, Colin, and Kim, Haejin, “Experimental Case Study
Demonstrating Advantages of Performance Specifications”, NCBC Conference, May 2006.
4.Obla,
Karthik, "Experimental Case Study Demonstrating Advantages of Performance
Specifications", Concrete inFocus, Summer 2005, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 32-42.
6.Lobo,
C., and Mullings, G.M., “Recycled Water in Ready Mixed Concrete Operations,"
Concrete inFocus, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Spring 2003,
pp. 17-26.
7.Lobo,
C. and Gaynor, R.D., "Reusing Non-Admixtured Returned Concrete," The
Concrete Producer, September 1998, pp. 621 – 623
8.Lobo,
C., “Challenging ASR Predictive Testing”, The Concrete Producer, March 1998.
9.Lobo,
C., Guthrie, W.F., and Kacker, R.,"A Study on the Reuse of Plastic Concrete
Using Extended Set Retarding Admixtures" Journal of Research of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, September – October 1995, pp 575-589
10.Lobo,
C.L., Mullings, G.M., and Gaynor, R.D., “Effects of Capping Materials and
Procedures on the Measured Compressive Strength of High-Strength Concrete”,
Cement Concrete and Aggregates, ASTM International, Vol. 16, No. 2, Dec
1994, pp. 173-180.
11.Gaynor,
R.D. and Lobo, C., “Current Research at NRMCA,” Concrete Products
magazine, April 1992, pp. 5-7.
Conference
Presentations:
1.Obla,
Karthik, “Well graded Aggregates and Concrete Performance”, Concrete
Technology Forum, Dallas, TX, May 2007.
2.Obla,
Karthik, “Research in Support of Performance Specifications”, CTF, Dallas, TX, May 2007.
3.Obla,
Karthik, “Optimizing Aggregate Gradation”, Texas Aggregates and Concrete
Association Annual Meeting – Invited Speaker and Panel Discussion, Austin,
TX, March 2007.
4.Obla,
Karthik, “Crushed Returned Concrete as Aggregates for New Concrete”, ACI
Spring Convention, Atlanta, 2007.
5.Obla,
Karthik, “Well graded Aggregates – Does it help?”, ACI Fall Convention,
Denver, 2006 (in Preparation)
6.Obla,
Karthik, “Effect of Continuous Combined Aggregate Grading on Concrete
Performance”, ACI Spring Convention, Charlotte, 2006
7.Obla,
Karthik, “Performance-Based Specifications: Laboratory Study Demonstrating
the Advantages”, Transportation Research
Board, 85th Annual Meeting, Washington DC, January
2006.
