There is described a probe for monitoring fresh concrete received in a drum of a fresh concrete mixer. The probe generally has an electromechanical actuator having a frame mounted within the drum and a moving element actuatably mounted to the frame, the moving element having a fresh concrete interface exposed within the drum and experiencing a resistance to movement within the drum upon actuation of the electromechanical actuator with an electrical signal; and a measurement unit measuring a resistance response during the actuation and generating a response signal based on the measured resistance response, the generated response signal comprising monitoring Information concerning the fresh concrete within the drum, if any.

Chemical test methods for evaluating the alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) of an aggregate or an aggregate within a particular concrete job mix design by exposing the aggregate to a simplified system with the same or simulated long-term pore solution conditions is provided. ASR is a chemical reaction occurring between alkaline hydroxides within cement paste and certain types of amorphous silica found in mineral aggregates. Causing an accumulation of internal pressure within concrete structures due to the formation of a hygroscopic gel through the absorption of water, ASR leads to expansion and cracking of concrete. The present test method determines the reactivity index (RI) of a given aggregate, or an aggregate as it is to be used in a proposed concrete job mix design by determining the average concentrations of calcium, aluminum, and silicon across multiple tested samples, wherein the RI is the ratio of the concentrations of silicon to that of aluminum and calcium combined.

A plurality of sensing devices are inserted into a concrete mixture to be used at a construction site. The concrete mixture is poured to form one or more structural elements, wherein one or more sensing devices are embedded in the concrete of each structural element. Data relating to a first characteristic of the concrete in each structural element is received from the sensing devices. For each structural element, a second characteristic of the concrete of the associated structural element is determined, based on the first characteristic. A map showing the one or more structural elements is generated. For each of the one or more structural elements, a respective graphical indicator indicating the second characteristic associated with the respective structural element is displayed on the map. The map is displayed on a user device.

An apparatus for producing and analyzing sample materials may comprise a milling device for milling material components, a first metering device for metering a material component into the milling device, a second metering device for metering an activator liquid into the milled material component, a homogenization device for homogenizing the material components and the activator liquid to produce a sample material, a control device that is connected to the milling device and is configured to vary a parameter characteristic for milling intensity of the milling device so that particle size of the material components is altered, and a measuring device for determining a reactivity of the sample material. The present disclosure further concerns a process for producing and analyzing a plurality of sample materials. The process may involve varying at least one parameter characteristic for milling intensity for each sample material produced.

Embodiments of a system and a method for measuring cementitious board during its continuous manufacture can be used online in a continuous manufacturing process to effectively determine the degree to which cementitious slurry has set (e.g., expressed as percent hydration) at a predetermined location, such as, near a cutting station, for example. A compression assembly can be used to compressively engage the cementitious board in a controlled manner as it passes by the compression member along the conveyor between the forming station and the cutting station. A force gauge can be associated with the compression member to measure the resistance force exerted by the cementitious board in response to being compressed by the compression member. The resistance force can be correlated to a set characteristic of the cementitious board, such as a numerical value of percent hydration of the cementitious slurry of that particular portion of the cementitious board.

Various aspects of the disclosure relate to evaluating the electromagnetic impedance characteristics of a material under test (MUT) over a range of frequencies. In particular aspects, a system includes: an electrically non-conducting container sized to hold the MUT, the electrically non-conducting container having a first opening at a first end thereof and a second opening at a second, opposite end thereof; a transmitting electrode assembly at the first end of the electrically non-conducting container, the transmitting electrode assembly having a transmitting electrode with a transmitting surface; and a receiving electrode assembly at the second end of the electrically non-conducting container, the receiving electrode assembly having a receiving electrode with a receiving surface, wherein the receiving electrode is approximately parallel with the transmitting electrode, and wherein the transmitting surface of the transmitting electrode is larger than the receiving surface of the receiving electrode.

Embodiments are described herein for a sensor device created for determining and monitoring quality and strength developments in concrete and other materials using temperature and electrical resistivity parameters. The embodiments described herein may be utilized in the construction industry for real-time monitoring of concrete and cement structures or for monitoring the strength and quality of soils, polymers, and liquid additives as well. According to various embodiments, alternating current (AC) electrical and temperature measurements may be performed to correlate to the quality and performance of the concrete, polymers, treated soils, and other materials. These measurements may be made by compact sensor devices that are configured to read both temperature and AC electrical measurements continuously to quantify the performance of materials.

Use of traceable micro-electro-mechanical systems (“MEMS”) in subterranean formations. A method may comprise introducing a treatment fluid comprising a traceable micro-electro-mechanical system into a wellbore, wherein the traceable micro-electro-mechanical system comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system and a tagging material.

A test apparatus and method for applying one or more tensile loads to a sample and for testing attributes of the sample exposed to the one or more tensile loads. The test apparatus includes a housing that has a plurality of interconnected sides that contain the sample during testing and provide a rigid support structure to offset the tensile loads applied to the sample. The test apparatus includes one or more force application assemblies that are each configured to apply a particular tensile load on the sample. Each of the force application assemblies includes an anchor for securing the sample to the housing, a connector attached to an opposite side of the sample from the corresponding anchor, and a tension rod assembly configured to apply the tensile load between the housing and the sample.

A method for calculating the change in percent voids between a reference location and a second location in a medium. The method includes obtaining a reference reflection coefficient of an electromagnetic wave reflection at the reference location, and a second reflection coefficient of an electromagnetic wave reflection at the second location. The obtained reflection coefficients are used to calculate a percent change in reflection coefficient. A reflection conversion factor correlating the change in the reflection coefficient to a change in percent voids in the medium is calculated and is used to calculate a change in percent voids between the reference and second locations based on the calculated percent change in reflection coefficients.