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

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)
  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
     .
  13. Experimental Case Study Demonstrating the Advantages of Performance Specifications (PDFReport to the RMC Research & Education Foundation, January 2006
     .
  14. Establishing a Center for Concrete Research (PDF)
    Concrete InFocus

NRMCA 2025 Annual Convention

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