”It is a pleasure to recommend you to make use of the Concrete Experts International’s services. Their knowledge and experience is outstanding regarding new technology developments with cement and concrete and related materials as well as for expert investigations of the durability and deterioration of field concrete. The special, combined scientific-engineering experience makes the company a welcomed, consulting newcomer.” Gunnar M. Idorn, Civil Engineer, D.Sc.

Background  

• Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Geology and Geochemistry. 

• Highly experienced in the field of inorganic and cement chemistry. 

• Well trained in field geology e.g. geochemical prospecting for ore deposits. 

• Highly skilled in optical fluorescence microscopy, reflected light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.  

• Experienced in the fields of stable isotope analysis, x-ray fluorescence, XRD analysis and organic geochemistry. 

• Twenty years of experience in the field of petrography of concrete and related materials. 

• Highly experienced in diagnosing the course of concrete deterioration. 

• Worked on the relation between chemical and mechanical properties of optimized products and their microstructures. 

• Have analyzed and reported on more that 5000 thin sections of concrete, mortar, rocks, asbestos, secondary raw materials, asphalt and related materials. 

• Highly experienced in the interpretation of textures of materials. 

• Project leader on international litigation cases. 

• Participated in international research projects. 

• Trained in image analysis. 

• Experienced in data treatment and presentation. 

• Publishing data and results in international journals. 

• Highly skilled in teaching and oral presentation. 

Working Experiences 

Investigation of deteriorated concrete using fluorescent microscopy and scanning electron microscopy 

Analyzed concrete and related materials from all sorts of structures such as marine structures, structures on land, prefabricated elements, poured structures; heat cured, elements, structures from industry and private residences.

Optimized mix design of zero slump and plastic concrete including self compacting concrete both in Europe and North America.

Typical Job Assignments  

Failure Analysis:

• Bridges suffering from ASR, sulfate attack, freeze/thaw, rebar corrosion. Europe, Russia, North America 

• Dams suffering from ASR. North America 

• Docksides suffering from ASR, sulfate attack. Europe 

• Sewage tanks suffering from ASR, sulfate attack, acid attack. Europe  

• Roads suffering from ASR. United States 

• Railroad ties suffering from ASR, DEF. Europe, United States, Canada 

• Foundations suffering from freeze/thaw, sulfate attack. Canada, United States 

• Panels suffering from ASR. United States 

• Poles suffering from DEF. Canada 

• Swimming pools suffering from ASR, rebar corrosion, Europe 

• Chimneys suffering from acid attack, Europe 

• Prefabricated elements suffering from ASR. Europe 

• Balconies suffering from chloride induced corrosion, Europe 

• Fire damaged concrete from storage building, silos, tunnels, and floors. Europe 

• Bottom elements from land fill suffering from cracking caused by poor workmanship, Europe 

• Floor slaps cracked due to plastic shrinkage caused improper curing. United States 

• Urea tower suffering from sulfate attack caused by gypsum in aggregates 

• Concrete tower containing hot MgCl₂ brine 

• Examination of the durability of a bridge build with CACC cement, France 

• Analyzed mortar from bricks, plaster, coating. Europe, North America 

• Shotcrete from marine tunnel. Europe  

• Asphalt pavements from airports and roads. Europe 

• Evaluation of aggregates for concrete. Greenland, Africa, North America 

• Field work of rock materials for concrete 

• Determined water to cement ratio on a routine basis using fluorescent microscopy, manually or by image analysis. 

• Testing early hydration products using alternative, secondary raw materials 

• Studying the DEF potential of cement 

• Examination of mineral phases and structural appearance of landfill material, United States

• Condition of the concrete in the Deutche Bank head quarter building, NY, damaged from 911 attack, United States

• Cause of failure in concrete poles along the cost of New England, United States

• Condition survey of concrete pipes in LA, United States

Litigation: 

• Prestressed railroad ties, ASR, Canada 

• Prestressed railroad ties, ASR & DEF, United States 

• Concrete foundation, Freeze/thaw, Canada 

• Tiles, DEF, United States 

• Concrete Panels, ASR, United States

• Concrete foundation, Sulfate Attack, United States

• Prestressed Pipe, Chloride induced corrosion, United States

Optimization:

• Optimization of pipe mortar

• Optimize products for new design

• Particle packing/rheology/compaction testing to improve durability and lower materials cost of zero-slump concrete

• Establish mix design for concrete in bridge and tunnel constructions exposed to seawater

• Oil/gas pipeline offshore. Zero slump concrete with density of +3400 kg/m³

• Optimization of plastic concrete for bridge foundation

Research and Development:

• Investigation of lime, FA, gypsum matrix

• Use of very fine sand (non-standards conforming) to make self compacting concrete

• Examination of polymers in bitumen for asphalt concrete

• Study of the crack formation from shooting anodes into concrete

• Study of the behavior of olivine when used as aggregate in concrete

• Developed a test program for evaluating cement’s usefulness for heat cured products.

• Developed a system for automatic air void analysis of concrete.

• Developed an instrument compaction properties of zero slump concrete.

• Developed a system for automatic analysis for w/c determination.

• Developed an instrument for measuring rheological properties of pastes and mortars.

• Developed software simulating the particle packing of a three component system.