Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-30
SCIENCE TAKES BIG
PLACE IN CEMENT
|NDUSTRY'S GROWTH
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

more to realize the place that science
occupies in everyday work. One
Of the many tangible evidences of
This is the structural materials re-
search laboratory established by the
Eement industry at Lewis institute,
. Chicago. In less than a decade this
laboratory has done work that af-
iects every city, town and hamlet
. N the country and reached out into
Ill the corners of the world.
Prior to 1914 there was but little
exact knowledge as to the princi-
ples to be followed IN order to OBJ
lain the maximum value and efti-
siency in the tuse of Portland ce-
nent. This product has been man
fractured in this country since
1872. but it had taken long years
b or it to win acceptance as build
hg material of divers uses. The
hen who were developing the in
lustry were we'll aware of the
). handicap they had to overcome, and
inally they decided that the best
hove they could make would be to
invite the cooperation of scientists.
accordingly the laboratory was
ostitute.
1t has none of the atmosphere of
Eg business. The rooms are filled
fifth queer-looking machines and in
itruments. Glass-covered cabinets
= he filed with hundreds of bottles
containing test samples. The Wis
tor gets the impression that he is
place where technical termi-
g lology is@the only language spoken
md where operations beyond the av-
rage layman are carried on.
However, after a brief period of
Inspection and study, and with
% ew words of explanation from one
the research experts in charge,
he laboratory takes on a more in
sting aspect, and It is easy to COM
rehend that IFS work is of direct
DUPLICATION to the practical problems
. everyday life.
q" Wide Scope Allowed Experts
When the laboratory was started
rof. Duff A. Abrams. considered one
the highest authorities in the
ountry on the use of cement in
oncrete, was selected to take
barge. The only Instructions given
= I'm were to find out everything that
to be known about concrete.
So thorough were the initial
lists, and so painstaking were the
kperts in their research, that it
tas four years before the first bull
Etin was issued, on the results of
he tests. Since that time hundreds
thousands of tests have been car
lad hI11
ave been issued for the benefit of
. bncrete users, instructing them
ow to get the best possible results
.om the material. and demonstrate
ig to the world in general the inn
Ortapce of scientific research to
lodern business.
One of the notable results of the
apartments conducted in the labora-
Try has been in connection with
ie use of water in concrete. 1t
as found that the amount of water
BED in mixing concrete was quite
important as the amount of sand,
lment or gravel. These inVestiga-
Dns made possible the attainment
substantial increase. in the
lrength of concrete without in
teas1ng the quantity of cement
BED. When the results had been
iecked thoroughly, and the experts
ere certain of their conclusions,
lie information was printed in bulle-
n form and distributed to thousands.
! concrete users. Results of other
tperiments are made available
nilarly.
Sand Samples Collected
coIJocf ion
ind samples at the laboratory-is
tobably the most complete that has
fer been assembled. For ten years
iese specimens have been collected.
here are sands from the Pacific coast,
ON New England, from every
her section of the United States,
Id from Cuba, Mexico, Canada and
her foreign countries. They have
len carefully tested and the results
these tests are preserved in the
les. This information includes the
turce of each sample, the grading,
h content and cOlorimetric tests
r. organic impurities. In most IN
hnces mortar and concrete tests
Ave also been made. This research
brk has shown the suitability of the
lrious sands for use in concrete
Id the records in the sand library
Re of great interest and value to
lie building world.
One section of the laboratory Is
tyoted to the testing of specimens
| concrete. The material is worked
to cylinders, a foot long and SIX
rhes in diameter. Each cylinder
labeled with the kind of a5gre-
ite used, the proportions Ct ma
rials and the date of making. THESE
hnples are filed away III Z huge
Eamber which is kept at a constant
snnerature, winter and summer.
dense fog-Iike spray from atomlz'
attached to water pipes is played
ter the cylinders day and night; as
hg as they are in the room.
Some of these specimens are
~ DAYS old-Others lave 1eeh
ere for six or eight years. At times
ere are as many as 1000 cyllnoers
the collection and 1t mas peeh
Icessary to construct another cur
o room within the last few weeks
When taken from the curing room
70 cylinders are tested in various
and the results carefully Toteo
= bulletin use and for presentation
Hcre various technical societies.
se of the big machines used in
:ese tests is capable of sGbJecflng5
r cylinders to pressure Of $oH Coo
funds, and there is now being in,
SI1ed another huge machine that
m exert pressure of 100000
funds. In it, entire walls 81 con-
ete blocks and other materials can
4 tested.
Delicate Machines Used
Tn contrast with the gigantic test
q machines there are delicate IN
tuments capable of measuring the
:tes of the minute particles of fine
d, ground cement. BY means of an
anaIyzer it has been determined
81 n nnrnxinnatelV six million par