Wondering just how much coarse aggregate to put in that batch of concrete for the new foundation?
An interactive Web site developed by Ashraf Ghaly and Linda Almstead can help.
Ghaly, assistant professor of civil engineering, and Almstead, lecturer in computer science, have developed a browser-based concrete mix program that guides the user through the process of combining cement, water and aggregates (sand and gravel) to make the best mix for a particular purpose. The browser walks the user through the steps, asking questions about the type and use of the concrete.
The site is getting heavy use since it was featured (with a large picture) in April's issue of Civil Engineering magazine, the official publication of the American Society of Civil Engineers. ASCE membership is 125,000 worldwide.
The Web site is at: http://www.union.edu/PUBLIC/CERDEPT/FACULTY/GHALY/CONCRETE/
Ghaly says he got the idea for the Web site while preparing handouts for CE22 (Civil Engineering Materials). He thought the summaries of design methods from the American Concrete Institute (ACI) could be programmed for interactive use. So, he structured the site and turned to Almstead, who wrote the programming code. The result is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide through the design process which culminates in a recipe that will be optimal for a given use. Ghaly says he still requires his students to know how to do the calculations by hand, but the browser can be a time-saver for larger projects.
Ghaly, who presented the site at an engineering conference last summer, says he has gotten feedback from users as far away as Belgium and Guam.