Concrete Logic

Seth Tandett

What is the most used manmade material on Earth? You guessed it – concrete. In each episode of Concrete Logic, we will explore one concrete-related topic with the help of industry professionals that are shaping the future of the trade. We’ll talk with suppliers, contractors, architects, engineers, specialists, and even some proponents of competing materials about their views of concrete and their vision of its future.

  1. EP #154: Why Concrete Is on the Critical Path for AI Data Centers

    5D AGO

    EP #154: Why Concrete Is on the Critical Path for AI Data Centers

    PRESENTED BY: GPRS Construction professionals know that utilities and concrete reinforcements can cause big problems when you’re on the job. GPRS helps you avoid them. We use ground penetrating radar to detect rebar, conduit, and post tension cables before you cut, core, or drill. And our concrete scans are 99.8% accurate - we guarantee it - helping you reduce hits, downtime, expenses, and keep your people safe. To keep your jobsite safer, visit: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/GPRS SUMMARY Data centers may look like simple boxes, but the race to build them is changing everything for concrete. In this episode, Doug Mouton explains why concrete is still one of the most important materials in the data center boom, even if it is only a small slice of the total cost. He breaks down what is driving the explosion in hyperscale and AI data centers, why projects are moving into rural areas, and why concrete supply, logistics, and mix design need to be thought through much earlier than most teams are used to. This is a big-picture episode, but it gets practical fast. If you work in concrete and want to understand where the data center market is headed and what owners actually want, this one will help. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Why data centers are growing so fast right nowWhat a data center actually is and how it worksWhy AI is pushing demand far beyond traditional cloud computingWhy more data centers are being built in rural areasHow labor, materials, and logistics get harder as projects move farther outWhy concrete becomes a critical path item even if it is a small part of total project costWhat hyperscale owners want from concrete suppliers and contractorsWhy speed, cost, and lower embodied carbon are all being pushed at the same timeWhy leaner structural designs may be the easiest way to reduce concrete useWhy concrete supply needs to be planned much earlier on gigascale projectsHow power infrastructure is creating even more demand for concreteWhat future energy storage systems could mean for the concrete industry CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro and Doug Mouton’s background01:20 - How to support the podcast03:20 - Why concrete matters so much to data center growth05:26 - What a data center actually is06:30 - Why cloud computing changed everything08:20 - How AI is driving a second wave of data center demand09:41 - Why more data centers are moving into rural areas11:20 - Rural pushback, trucking, roads, and local disruption12:32 - Why rural projects make labor and materials even harder13:15 - What owners and developers actually want from concrete15:05 - Speed, ESG pressure, and embodied carbon goals16:05 - Why concrete procurement is still too fragmented18:00 - Why concrete suppliers need a seat at the table earlier19:02 - How leaner design can cut carbon, cost, and schedule20:13 - Seth’s skepticism on new low-carbon materials at scale21:39 - Why scale and supply chain reality still matter22:05 - Why concrete planning should start at the very beginning23:32 - How power infrastructure creates even more concrete demand24:05 - Massive towers, gravity batteries, and future energy storage ideas25:00 - Using AI to make steel and rebar design more efficient25:35 - Will data centers get smaller, denser, and stiffer?26:20 - Wrap-up and final thoughtsGUEST INFO Douglas Mouton Mouton Advisory Services https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/douglas-mouton/   CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Need PDHs that are actually worth your time?   The Concrete Logic Academy is built for engineers, contractors, and concrete professionals who want practical training they can actually use - not another boring seminar that gets forgotten by tomorrow.   Use it for PDHs. Use it for lunch and learns. Use it to get smarter on concrete without wasting half your day.   Real topics. Real field problems. Real conversations.   Start your free trial here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/pro SUPPORT THE PODCAST If this episode helped you...  If you learned something...  If it made you think differently... Support the show here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate This podcast runs on Value for Value. Give whatever you think the episode was worth. PARTNERS KUIU (performance gear Seth actually uses): https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Interested in advertising or working with us? Email: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com CREDITS Producers: Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/ WHERE TO FIND CONCRETE LOGIC Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/concretelogicpodcast/

    34 min
  2. EP #153: Your Concrete Mix Design Still Isn’t Ready… Until You Do This

    APR 14

    EP #153: Your Concrete Mix Design Still Isn’t Ready… Until You Do This

    PRESENTED BY: GPRS Construction professionals know that utilities and concrete reinforcements can cause big problems when you’re on the job. GPRS helps you avoid them. We use ground penetrating radar to detect rebar, conduit, and post tension cables before you cut, core, or drill. And our concrete scans are 99.8% accurate - we guarantee it - helping you reduce hits, downtime, expenses, and keep your people safe. To keep your jobsite safer, visit: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/GPRS SUMMARY Last episode, Dr. Jon Belkowitz walked through how to build a concrete mix design on paper. This episode picks up where that left off. Because a design mix is not the same thing as a batch mix. Dr. Jon breaks down the final adjustments that have to happen before that mix can actually be used in production, including moisture corrections, free water, and admixture dosages. If you have ever wondered how a mix goes from a neat set of numbers on paper to something a plant can actually batch, this episode clears it up. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN   Why a design mix is not the same as a batch mix  How aggregate moisture changes your sand and rock weights  What “free water” really means and why it matters  How moisture in the aggregates affects water-cement ratio  How to calculate the water coming from sand and stone  How admixture dosage is calculated from cement content  Why admixtures also add water to the mix  How to calculate final batch water  What the final adjusted batch mix looks like  Why contractors and engineers should understand this math even if the plant computer does it for them  CHAPTERS  00:00 - Intro and how to support the show  02:15 - Why people are actually using the podcast on the job  02:36 - Concrete Logic Academy and PDHs  03:36 - Picking up where the last mix design episode ended  04:22 - What has to change to move from design mix to batch mix  05:44 - The project assumptions for this slab mix  06:28 - Where moisture content and absorption values come from  08:13 - Adjusting sand weight for moisture  10:54 - Adjusting rock weight for moisture  12:05 - What free water is and why it affects your mix  13:24 - Calculating free water from the sand  14:33 - Calculating free water from the rock  15:24 - Admixture dosage explained  16:16 - Calculating admixture ounces per cubic yard  17:28 - Calculating how much water the admixture brings  18:47 - Final batch water calculation  19:34 - Final adjusted batch mix  20:38 - What happens next at the plant  21:03 - Why admixtures are mostly water  24:51 - Withholding water and adjusting slump at the plant  26:53 - How admixture dispensing systems work  29:25 - Wrap-up and what to cover next time  GUEST INFO Dr. Jon Belkowitz Intelligent Concrete Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Got a concrete problem no one can explain? Bring it to the Concrete Logic Academy. Ask questions. Share what you’re seeing. Get real answers you can use on the next pour. Simple as that. Free trial for pros here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/pro SUPPORT THE PODCAST If this episode helped you... If you learned something... If it made you think differently... Support the show here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com This podcast runs on Value for Value. Give whatever you think the episode was worth. PARTNERS KUIU (performance gear Seth actually uses): https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Interested in advertising or working with us? Email: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com CREDITS Producers: Joseph Swann, Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/ WHERE TO FIND CONCRETE LOGIC Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/concretelogicpodcast/

    37 min
  3. EP #152: Concrete Mix Design Isn’t Complicated… Here’s the Proof

    APR 2

    EP #152: Concrete Mix Design Isn’t Complicated… Here’s the Proof

    PRESENTED BY: GPRS Construction professionals know that utilities and concrete reinforcements can cause big problems when you’re on the job. GPRS helps you avoid them. We use ground penetrating radar to detect rebar, conduit, and post tension cables before you cut, core, or drill. And our concrete scans are 99.8% accurate… we guarantee it—helping you reduce hits, downtime, expenses, and keep your people safe. To keep your jobsite safer, visit https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/GPRS SUMMARY If you’ve never built your own concrete mix design… this episode fixes that. Dr. Jon Belkowitz walks through the ACI 211 method step-by-step, showing exactly how a mix is built from scratch. By the end, you’ll see that mix design isn’t magic. It’s just decisions… and a little math. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN What actually goes into a cubic yard of concrete — and why it mattersWhy mix design is basically a “choose your own adventure”How slump, aggregate size, and air content drive your entire mixThe simple math behind water-cement ratio (and why it controls everything)How to calculate cement, water, rock, and sand — step by stepWhy yield matters (and how getting it wrong costs real money)The difference between a design mix vs batch mixWhat changes when moisture shows up in your aggregates (this comes up near the end)  CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro and how to support the show 02:20 – Shoutout to this episode’s Producer 03:00 – Why PDHs should actually be useful 05:20 – What is a cubic yard of concrete? 06:30 – Absolute volume method explained 09:50 – ACI 211 and “choose your own adventure” 13:30 – Selecting slump, water, and air content 17:00 – Adjusting water for admixtures 19:00 – Water-cement ratio and strength 21:00 – Aggregate proportions and why they matter 25:30 – Start of the actual math 31:30 – Calculating coarse aggregate 34:00 – Converting weights to volumes 36:30 – Solving for sand (the missing piece) 39:30 – Final mix design breakdown 40:10 – Design mix vs batch mix (what’s next) GUEST INFO Dr. Jon Belkowitz Intelligent Concrete Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Got a concrete problem no one can explain? Bring it to the Concrete Logic Academy. Ask questions. Share what you’re seeing. Get real answers you can use on the next pour. Simple as that. Free trial for pros here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/pro SUPPORT THE PODCAST If this episode helped you… If you learned something… If it made you think differently… Support the show here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com This podcast runs on Value for Value. Give whatever you think the episode was worth. PARTNERS KUIU (performance gear Seth actually uses): https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Interested in advertising or working with us? Email: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com CREDITS Producers: Joseph Swann, Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/ WHERE TO FIND CONCRETE LOGIC Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/concretelogicpodcast/

    49 min
  4. EP #151: Most Concrete Durability Problems Start Here (Alkalinity Explained)

    MAR 24

    EP #151: Most Concrete Durability Problems Start Here (Alkalinity Explained)

    PRESENTED BY: GPRS Construction professionals know that utilities and concrete reinforcements can cause big problems when you’re on the job. GPRS helps you avoid them. We use ground penetrating radar to detect rebar, conduit, and post tension cables before you cut, core, or drill. And our concrete scans are 99.8% accurate… we guarantee it—helping you reduce hits, downtime, expenses, and keep your people safe. To keep your jobsite safer, visit https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/GPRS SUMMARY Concrete strength gets all the attention. But what if the real driver of concrete performance isn’t strength at all? In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Bob Higgins returns to talk about alkalinity — the chemical environment inside concrete that may control moisture behavior, curing, permeability, and long-term durability. Bob explains why alkalinity is often confused with pH, why salts inside concrete can trap moisture that testing methods never see, and why modern cement chemistry may be quietly changing how concrete cures and performs. If you’ve ever wondered why concrete behaves differently today than it did decades ago, this conversation will make you think. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN · What alkalinity actually means in concrete chemistry  · Why pH and alkalinity are not the same thing · The two alkaline salts that control moisture behavior in concrete · Why salts can trap moisture that RH tests can’t detect · How high alkalinity can lead to permeable, weaker surface concrete · The difference between porosity and permeability · Why precast heat curing can change long-term durability · Why compressive strength often fails as a durability indicator · How cement kiln dust may have increased alkalinity in modern cement CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction  02:20 What alkalinity means in concrete  03:10 Why salts control moisture behavior  07:40 Why RH probes can miss trapped moisture  10:20 Calcium hydroxide vs sodium hydroxide  14:00 Self-desiccation and modern cement chemistry  18:00 Where alkalinity in concrete comes from  23:30 Signs of high alkalinity in concrete  24:00 Why precast surfaces can be more permeable  26:00 Porosity vs permeability explained  29:00 Why compressive strength can mislead durability  31:20 Why sealers often fail long term  33:00 Alkali-silica reaction explained  35:00 Why alkalinity isn’t being studied enough  38:00 Why RH specifications often don’t make sense  39:00 Preview: additional forms of moisture in concrete   GUEST Bob Higgins Chief Scientist https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/robert-higgins/ CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY If you like what you’re learning on the podcast, the Concrete Logic Academy Unlimited Pro Membership is where it all comes together. We take the topics you hear on the show and turn them into structured courses—with real explanations, supporting material, and quizzes so you actually retain it. Most people in this industry learn by trial and error. This is how you get ahead without paying for mistakes. Many courses qualify for PDHs and CEUs. Start your free trial here:  https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/pro   SUPPORT THE PODCAST If the Concrete Logic Podcast has helped you learn something new or connect with someone in the industry, consider supporting the show. Donate here:  https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support Looking for great hunting or work gear: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Interested in advertising or media services? https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/partner-with-concrete-logic-podcast/ CREDITS Producers: Jodi Tandett, Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton  https://www.mdunton.com/ WHERE TO FIND SETH Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast Until next time, let’s keep it concrete!

    47 min
  5. EP #150: Most Concrete Floors Aren’t Flat Enough. Here’s Why.

    MAR 12

    EP #150: Most Concrete Floors Aren’t Flat Enough. Here’s Why.

    PRESENTED BY: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Practical education and ongoing development for concrete professionals at every stage of their career. Join here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/ Superflat concrete floors didn’t just appear overnight. They evolved through decades of trial, error, and innovation. In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Chad White from Structural Services Inc. (SSI) returns to explain how the industry went from checking floors with a 10-foot straightedge to producing high-tolerance floors for robotics, automated warehouses, and high-bay storage systems. Chad has more than 40 years of experience in concrete construction, starting as a cement mason apprentice before running his own company and later becoming a senior concrete consultant with SSI. He has worked on defined-traffic superflat floors, random-traffic high-tolerance slabs, suspended slabs, and industrial floor systems across the country. We talk about how the means and methods have changed, what actually defines a “superflat” floor, and why today’s demands for automation and robotics are pushing tolerances tighter than ever. If you’ve ever wondered how contractors actually hit FF, FL, and F-min numbers, this episode explains the real-world process behind it. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ·       What actually qualifies as a superflat concrete floor ·       How floors were measured before the F-number system ·       Why laser screeds and float pans changed everything ·       The difference between defined-traffic (F-min) and random-traffic floors ·       Why robotics and automated warehouses are demanding flatter floors ·       Where most grinding corrections occur on high-tolerance slabs ·       Why slump consistency and placement rate matter more than exotic mix designs ·       How laser scanning and real-time data could change floor flatness control in the future CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 02:40 Early methods for measuring floor flatness 05:15 How superflat floors started in warehouse logistics 08:40 Measuring FF, FL, and F-min floors 12:00 The history of the F-number system 16:30 How superflat floors were built in the 1980s 22:00 Bump cutting and manual finishing methods 28:30 Profilographs and corrective grinding 31:00 High-tolerance random traffic floors 34:00 Laser screeds and float pans change the industry 37:00 Modern methods for producing flatter floors 39:00 Mix design considerations for superflat slabs 42:00 The future of floor flatness measurement GUEST Chad White  Structural Services Inc. (SSI) https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/chad-white/ CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY If you enjoy the educational side of the podcast, check out the Concrete Logic Academy. The Academy takes topics from the podcast and turns them into structured learning courses with quizzes and supporting material. Many courses qualify for PDHs and CEUs for engineers and industry professionals. Learn more here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com SUPPORT THE PODCAST If the Concrete Logic Podcast has helped you learn something new or connect with someone in the industry, consider supporting the show. Donate here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/support Looking for great hunting gear: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Interested in advertising or media services? seth@concretelogicpodcast.com CREDITS Producers: Scott Reed, Jodi Tandett, Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton https://www.mdunton.com/ WHERE TO FIND SETH Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethtandett/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast Until next time, let’s keep it concrete!

    51 min
  6. EP #149: Got a Low Concrete Break? Here’s What To Do Next

    MAR 3

    EP #149: Got a Low Concrete Break? Here’s What To Do Next

    PRESENTED BY: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Practical education and ongoing development for concrete professionals at every stage of their career. Join here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/  EPISODE SUMMARY You get the 28-day report. It’s low. Now what?   In this episode, Seth sits down with Josh Agee, Concrete Quality Assurance Manager at F.A. Wilhelm Construction, to walk through what actually happens when a cylinder comes back below strength. Who do you call first? Is it the mix? The placement? The testing company? When do you use a Swiss hammer? When do you core? And what really matters — the cylinder… or the in-place concrete? This is a practical, field-level conversation about investigating low breaks, managing risk, and protecting your project before things spiral. If you work in structural concrete, this isn’t hypothetical. It’s coming.  WHAT YOU’LL LEARN  • Why reviewing batch tickets is the first move  • Why the middle third of the truck matters when sampling  • How poor field curing can destroy cylinder results  • What most people misunderstand about testing tech responsibility  • When to use Swiss hammers and Windsor probes  • Why coring is often the final answer  • What the rolling average actually tells you  • When concrete must be removed — and when it doesn’t  • How better pre-pour meetings reduce risk  CHAPTERS 00:00 – The low break email no one wants 03:29 – Investigating batch tickets and water additions 05:26 – Why pre-pour meetings matter more than you think 08:07 – Cure box mistakes that happen all the time 13:03 – Non-destructive testing and managing risk 15:11 – Coring and what break patterns tell you 18:26 – Rolling averages and statistical outliers 21:16 – Proper sampling: the middle third rule 23:26 – How cylinders get mishandled 25:02 – Labeling errors that create chaos 26:22 – Lessons learned moving forward  GUEST INFO Josh Agee Concrete Quality Assurance Manager F.A. Wilhelm Construction Profile: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/josh-agee/  CONCRETE LOGIC PARTNERS INTELLIGENT CONCRETE Concrete not behaving the way it should? Intelligent Concrete combines lab-level testing with real-world field experience to identify the true root cause of performance issues — not just treat the symptoms. Reach out for help: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete  CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Earn PDHs in the same straight-talk format as the podcast: Join now: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/academy  SUPPORT THE PODCAST (VALUE FOR VALUE) Concrete Logic operates on a Value-for-Value model. If you get value from the show — whether that’s education, perspective, or just something that makes you better at your craft — consider giving value back. Donate here: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate Producer-level supporters get recognized on the episode. This episode’s Producers: Josh Bong Tom Cummings Thank you for supporting independent concrete education. You can also support the show by purchasing your KUIU work, workout, or hunting gear through our link — 10% goes to the podcast at no additional cost to you: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Media, sponsorship, or content inquiries: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com  CREDITS  Producers: Josh Bong, Tom Cummings, Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media   Music by Mike Dunton:  https://www.mdunton.com/  WHERE TO FIND SETH  https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/ https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com Seth@concretelogicpodcast.com   Until next time… Let’s keep it concrete.

    32 min
  7. EP #148: If You Think Today’s Concrete Is Better Than 30 Years Ago, Listen to This

    FEB 19

    EP #148: If You Think Today’s Concrete Is Better Than 30 Years Ago, Listen to This

    PRESENTED BY: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Practical education and ongoing development for concrete professionals at every stage of their career.  Join here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/ EPISODE SUMMARY Thirty years ago, concrete mix designs were simpler, more prescriptive, and easier to predict. Today, they’re optimized, blended, engineered, and heavily influenced by admixtures, SCMs, and cement chemistry. In this episode, Seth talks with Jeff Slagle from Chaney Enterprises about how ready-mix designs actually evolved over the last three decades—what changed, why it changed, and what that means for producers, engineers, and finishers working with today’s concrete. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN What ready-mix designs actually looked like in the 1990s (and why they were so prescriptive)Why SCMs like slag and fly ash were initially resisted—and how producers got buy-inHow high-range water reducers quietly changed everythingWhy performance-based specs (P2P) shifted control back to producersWhat Type IL cement changed in real-world placement and finishingWhy data centers are driving new mix demandsWhat problems the next generation of concrete still hasn’t solved CHAPTERS 00:00 – Why this episode matters 03:20 – Jeff Slagle’s path through the ready-mix business 06:10 – What mix designs looked like 30 years ago 09:50 – When SCMs actually entered the Mid-Atlantic market 11:30 – Slag vs fly ash: field realities, not theory 14:45 – Prescriptive specs vs performance-based design (P2P) 17:00 – High-range water reducers and the air-entrainment nightmare 19:30 – Aggregate blending and plant complexity 20:30 – Type IL cement and the end of “cheap” SCMs 23:40 – Finishing challenges and jobsite adaptation 26:30 – What the future might look like for concrete mixes 29:00 – Cement supply, imports, and market pressure GUEST INFO Jeff Slagle Director of Key Aggregate Accounts Chaney Enterprises Email: JSlagle@chaneyenterprises.com Website: https://www.chaneyenterprises.com   CONCRETE LOGIC PARTNERS INTELLIGENT CONCRETE Concrete not behaving the way it should? Intelligent Concrete combines lab-level testing with real-world field experience to identify the true root cause of concrete performance issues—not just treat the symptoms. Reach out for help: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete   CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Earn PDHs in the same straight-talk format as the podcast: Join now: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/academy SUPPORT THE PODCAST Did you get value out of the show? Give some value back: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate Buy your KUIU work, workout & hunting gear and 10% goes to the show. No added cost to you: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Media, sponsorship, or content inquiries: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com   CREDITS Producers: Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/ WHERE TO FIND SETH https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/ https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com Seth@concretelogicpodcast.com

    37 min
  8. EP #147: Concrete Cracks Don’t Lie - ASR, AAR, and What’s Really Happening Inside Your Concrete

    FEB 10

    EP #147: Concrete Cracks Don’t Lie - ASR, AAR, and What’s Really Happening Inside Your Concrete

    PRESENTED BY: CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Practical education and ongoing development for concrete professionals at every stage of their career.  Join here: https://www.concretelogicacademy.com/ EPISODE SUMMARY Concrete cracks are often brushed off as shrinkage, restraint, or “just part of concrete.” That mindset gets structures in trouble. In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, Seth Tandett is joined by Dr. Jon Belkowitz to break down alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR)—what they are, how they develop, and why they continue to surprise engineers, contractors, and owners decades after first being documented. They walk through the history of ASR, how it shows up in real structures, why it’s often misdiagnosed, and how modern testing and prevention strategies are improving—but still imperfect. The core message is simple: cracks are symptoms, not root causes, and ignoring them is how durability problems turn into long-term failures. This is a practical, field-informed conversation for anyone responsible for designing, specifying, building, or maintaining concrete structures. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Why ASR remains one of the most misunderstood concrete durability issuesThe difference between ASR and AAR—and why the distinction mattersHow reaction-driven cracking differs from typical shrinkage or restraint crackingWhen ASR damage can accelerate faster than expectedHow ASR is identified and diagnosed in real structuresWhere current ASR testing methods work—and where they fall shortWhy prevention is still more reliable than remediationHow concrete professionals should think about cracks before they spread CHAPTERS 00:00 – Why concrete cracks should never be ignored 02:11 – ASR vs. AAR: definitions and mechanisms 04:50 – How ASR damages concrete over time 07:47 – Identifying and diagnosing ASR in the field 10:08 – Testing methods and prevention strategies 13:19 – The future of ASR management in concrete structures GUEST INFO Dr. Jon Belkowitz Intelligent Concrete Jon@intelligent-concrete.com CONCRETE LOGIC PARTNERS INTELLIGENT CONCRETE Concrete not behaving the way it should? Intelligent Concrete combines lab-level testing with real-world field experience to identify the true root cause of concrete performance issues—not just treat the symptoms. Reach out for help: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/intelligent-concrete CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY Earn PDHs in the same straight-talk format as the podcast: Join now: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/academy SUPPORT THE PODCAST Did you get value out of the show? Give some value back: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/donate Buy your KUIU work, workout & hunting gear and 10% goes to the show. No added cost to you: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/kuiu Media, sponsorship, or content inquiries:   seth@concretelogicpodcast.com CREDITS Producers: Jodi Tandett, Maya Richardson & Concrete Logic Media Music by Mike Dunton: https://www.mdunton.com/ WHERE TO FIND SETH https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/ https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com Seth@concretelogicpodcast.com

    40 min
See All (155)

4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

What is the most used manmade material on Earth? You guessed it – concrete. In each episode of Concrete Logic, we will explore one concrete-related topic with the help of industry professionals that are shaping the future of the trade. We’ll talk with suppliers, contractors, architects, engineers, specialists, and even some proponents of competing materials about their views of concrete and their vision of its future.

Information

  • Creator
    Seth Tandett
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    155
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Seth Tandett
  • Show Website
    Concrete Logic

You Might Also Like