News Detail

From Cars to Concrete

10/27/2016

Shredded cars turned into aggregate for concrete

This interesting research was presented on Contractors’ Day at The Concrete Convention and Exposition in Philadelphia, PA, USA, recently.

The session titled, “Mechanical Properties of Concrete Made with Fluff,” explained how materials derived from the shredding of automobiles results in a mixture of ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal and shredder waste, called automotive shredder residue (ASR).

ASR consists of glass, fiber, rubber, automobile liquids, plastics and dirt. ASR is sometimes differentiated into shredder light fraction and dust. Sometimes these residual materials are called "Car-fluff". 

Later in the day, a special session titled, “Take the High Road-Developing Character of Impeccable Integrity” discussed how building-team members are challenged by exponential growth in the extent and complexity of governing codes and regulations, and business demands for expedient design and fast-food style construction impose additional burdens. Attendees were urged to establish and use an effective plan where every team member could understand and successfully respond to any ethical challenge that may be encountered in this area.

The session-packed day also included “Concrete with Recycled Materials.” This two-part session focused on information about evaluating concrete mixtures with various waste by-product and recycled materials, and research on testing and emerging technologies produced by recycled materials. Recycled Glass Powder; Recycled Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Rebar Waste; and High-Volume Fly Ash were a few of the topics discussed.

Concrete industry professionals also had the opportunity to attend a lunch presentation by Mike Ricchezza and Valerie Giangiulio-Moody, titled “Comcast Center Mat Foundation Concrete Placement-One of the Largest Concrete Placements in Philadelphia History.”

There was also a special three-part session – “Joint ACI-fib International Symposium on Punching Shear of Structural Concrete Slabs - Honoring Neil Hawkins.” This symposium presented recent advances on the punching shear design of structural concrete slabs.

To round off the day, Contractors’ Day attendees joined nearly 2,000 other concrete professionals at the Concrete Mixer, held at the National Constitution Center, for an evening of entertainment, great food, and beverages.