images of an asbestos element coating Asbestos is a term used to refer to six naturally occurring silicate minerals. All are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fiber being composed of many microscopic 'fibrils' that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes. Asbestos is a well known health hazard, and use of it as a building material is now banned in many countries. Inhalation of the fibres can lead to various lung conditions, including cancer. Archaeological studies have found evidence of asbestos being used as far back as the Stone Age to strengthen ceramic pots, but large-scale mining began at the end of the 19th century when manufacturers and builders began using asbestos for its desirable physical properties. Asbestos use was widespread during the 20th century until public recognition of the health hazards, beginning in the 1970s, of asbestos dust led to its outlawing by courts and legislatures in mainstream constr...

    Failure of earth dams may be: Hydraulic Failure Seepage Failure Structural Failure 1. Hydraulic Failure: Types of Rolled filled dams: Overtopping of dams Erosion of the Upstream Surface Erosion of the Downstream Surface Erosion of the Downstream toe i. Overtopping of dams: This type of dam is made up of only one type of material. Usually porous materials is used. These dams are easy and cheap to construct but cannot be used to make multipurpose large dams. For large multipurpose dams zoned type method is used. Over topping failures result from the erosive action of water on the embankment. Erosion is due to un-controlled flow of water over, around, and adjacent to the dam. Earth embankments are not designed to be over-topped and therefore are particularly susceptible to erosion. Once erosion has begun during over-topping, it is almost impossible to stop. A well vegetated earth embankment may withstand limited over topping if its crest ...

Do you feel like your company loses too many bids? The problem could be that you're bidding too high or not accurately assessing the costs involved in a given project. Want to make your next bid a winner? Then you need the right estimating software to help you put in the best bid possible. Here are a few suggestions for software titles that can help you put that together. HCCS Heavy Bid HCCS HeavyBid is currently being used by over 35,000 estimators and is considered by many to represent the industry standard in estimating software. It is implemented by companies of every description, from the smallest of subcontractors to huge multinational construction companies. HCCS has proven to be a perfect fit for both public and private contracts in utility transportation, oil and gas, and power. It helps contractors accurately and swiftly prepare detailed cost estimates and convert them into bids. HeavyBid allows users to generate estimates more quickly by uti...

If you've been reading my blog for a while as a casual observer but think you have what it takes to start and build your ​own company, we have some advice for you. A good plan can often make the difference between success and failure. Starting a new business off on the right foot may not guarantee success, but it positions you much better for it. With that in mind, let's have a look at the eight most important things to consider when starting a construction management business. Develop a Good Business Plan This is important for two reasons: It is a huge part of what lending institutions use to gauge whether they want to help fund your business, and it also helps you clarify in your mind the direction you want to take your business. Construction management is a broad description. You need to narrow it down. Do you plan to do residential or commercial construction? Will you specialize in new construction, or will you focus on improvements, remodeling...

Hardened concrete gains strength with time and testing these hardened concrete for quality check is important for structures. Different types of tests are available to check different properties of hardened concrete which are discussed. Properties of Hardened Concrete Early volume change Creep Properties Permeability Stress-Strain Relation Early Volume Change (Shrinkage) may result in cracking. Plastic Shrinkage occurs due to water loss from fresh paste by evaporation or from suction by dry surface. Volume decreases up to 1% when the paste is still plastic. Controlling water loss may help to prevent plastic shrinkage of concrete. Drying Shrinkage occurs due to loss of water and/or cooling. 15-30% of dry shrinkage occurs in the first 2 weeks, 65-85% in first year. Drying shrinkage can be induced by lack of curing, high water-cement ratio, high cement content, low coarse aggregate content and existence of steel reinforcement. It depends on size ...