The annual World of Concrete trade show returns to Las Vegas later this month with an expanded seminar track, its famous "mega demos," and a high-tech expo reborn. World of Concrete 2005, which is expected to draw more than 70,000 design and construction professionals, will run January 17–21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The show features a new series of seminars geared toward helping A/E/C firms take advantage of emerging trends in the concrete field, including sustainable design, concrete homes, and information technology. Roy Reiterman of the Wire Reinforcement Institute will discuss innovations in structural welded wire reinforcement for concrete structures, which has become popular as an alternative to traditional steel rebar in light of rising steel costs. A seminar hosted by Richard Szecsy of Lattimore Materials Co., McKinney, Texas, will cover green building with concrete, such as the use of high-pozzolanic replacements and recycled water. And Bart Kanters of the Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Ontario will detail CMATS, a secure website where test data can be recorded, viewed, and distributed to owners, architects, engineers, testing companies, contractors, and material suppliers.
Among the show's mega demos is a three-day demonstration on decorative concrete that will showcase the work of 12 artisans, who will apply popular decorative concrete techniques, such as stamping and etching, to create concrete artwork. Attendees will also learn how to use products, tools, and techniques to achieve a variety of artistic results with concrete.
Following a two-year hiatus, during which the show changed ownership, the former A/E/C Systems conference has been repackaged as Technology for Construction to coincide with World of Concrete. The show will include 35,000 sf of exhibit space featuring the latest electronic products and services for the design and construction communities.
High-Tension Epoxy
Three-component epoxy grout is designed for projects (such as parking structures) that involve the post-tensioning of precast concrete members, where the installation of a formed cube of grout to protect the anchorage from long-term corrosion is needed. Sikadur 42 Grout-Pak PT epoxy resists moisture, chemical intrusion, and cracking.
Sika Corp. Reader Service No. 204
Add a Twist
Concrete reinforcing wire features a helical form that acts like a tiny screw locked into the concrete, resulting in concrete structures that are up to five times stronger than standard reinforced concrete, according to the maker. Helix's shape and twist resist cracking and bending because the wire must untwist prior to failure, requiring considerably more energy than mere friction. The toothpick-sized, coated metallic wire is randomly dispersed and orientated at the concrete ready mix plant or on the job site. Licensed from the University of Michigan, the patented technology is recommended for use in residential buildings, industrial floors, precast products, and blast- and earthquake-resistant structures.
Polytorx. Reader Service No. 206
Reaching New Heights
When site restrictions and time constraints eliminated precast tilt-up concrete as a possible wall system for a new exhibition hall at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla., the Building Team turned to insulated concrete forms. Tampa-based contractor Hunt Construction Group erected the expanded polystyrene forms to a record height of 54 feet to accommodate the five-story-high, 15-inch-thick concrete walls. Approximately 49,000 sf of wall surface was poured in just eight weeks. The ICF approach cut six weeks off the wall construction time compared with traditional construction methods, according to Douglas Broadhead, Marriott's senior project director.
Reward Wall Systems. Reader Service No. 207
