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2010-02-22 Science & Technology

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Posted by Bobby 2010-02-22 14:39|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 "Testwell skipped these tests, instead relying on strength estimates tabulated in a computer program"

Oh, so they are using a computer model instead of actual observations. I thought the government was fine with that?

Posted by crosspatch 2010-02-22 16:24|| 2010-02-22 16:24|| Front Page Top

#2 " If he gets more than probation, it'll be a travesty. But it's New York City, and The New York Times."

If this lab is a non-union shop, that might explain the harassment.

Posted by crosspatch 2010-02-22 16:27|| 2010-02-22 16:27|| Front Page Top

#3 I was at an indoor range in Knoxville once, and a fellow from a local company researching new 'cinder' blocks to be cheaper and lighter, yet bullet resistant for HUD projects.

Their test block not only failed to stop the rounds from a 9mm, they blew through it like it was styrofoam. The guy laughed and said "Back to the lab!"

A clear example of that no matter how nice your model, it's not reality. I do have to say, at least they were going to try again, not sell it on the basis of their models.

Posted by Silentbrick 2010-02-22 19:08|| 2010-02-22 19:08|| Front Page Top

#4 Agree with Mr. Bobby, programs are fine and most concrete suppliers use them for estimating and building recipes, but real trial batches are required by Caltrans spec. Our lab takes sets and the plant usually has their own cylinders - we compare breaks. I wouldn't pour a high-strength mix without real tests. We poured a stair span on the downtown ped bridge that was 8,000 psi last Friday.

Posted by Frank G 2010-02-22 19:09|| 2010-02-22 19:09|| Front Page Top

#5 Silentbrick, I used to frequent an indoor range in Knoxville. Probably the same one you were in. BrerRabbit and I went there on lunch hour.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2010-02-22 19:31|| 2010-02-22 19:31|| Front Page Top

#6 I am appalled and would come down on Mr. Kancharla like a ton of ... concrete. Basically he didn't do what he promised and on a safety issue that, on failure, could kill hundreds or thousands of people.

It carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

Good.

Posted by ed 2010-02-22 21:54|| 2010-02-22 21:54|| Front Page Top

#7 OK, reading further, this was pre-construction stength testing. Further testing should catch substandard materials and workmanship after the concrete is poured, unless it's Mr. Kancharla doing that testing too. But that's god awfully expensive and wasteful to rip out concrete structures and start again from the foundation.

The testing system is designed to catch both incompetence and fraud. When the watchdog is crooked, the system breaks down.

Posted by ed 2010-02-22 22:09|| 2010-02-22 22:09|| Front Page Top

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