Bend it Like. . . Concrete?

[Tuckerfan]

An end to potholes in our time?

The new concrete looks like regular concrete, but is 500 times more resistant to cracking and 40 percent lighter in weight. Tiny fibers that comprise about 2 percent of the mixture’s volume partly account for its performance. Also, the materials in the concrete itself are designed for maximum flexibility. Because of its long life, the Engineered Cement Composites (ECC) are expected to cost less in the long run, as well.

U-M’s ECC technology has been used already on projects in Japan, Korea, Switzerland and Australia, but has had relatively slow adoption in the United States, said engineering professor Victor Li, whose team is developing the engineered cement composites. That’s despite traditional concrete’s many problems: lack of durability and sustainability; failure under severe loading; and the resulting expenses of repair.

[danceswithcats]

Sure. But can they make a toboggan with it?

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

As a guy who works in Transportation, I’ll tell you–it ain’t gonna happen.

Too many contractors would lose lucrative contracts.

And road building is all about greasing the Pols’ hands.

Ain’t gonna happen.

[ParentalAdvisory]

@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

As a guy who works in Transportation, I’ll tell you–it ain’t gonna happen.

Too many contractors would lose lucrative contracts.

And road building is all about greasing the Pols’ hands.

Ain’t gonna happen.

That sucks.

[CynicalGabe]

@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

As a guy who works in Transportation, I’ll tell you–it ain’t gonna happen.

Too many contractors would lose lucrative contracts.

And road building is all about greasing the Pols’ hands.

Ain’t gonna happen.

Damn you for injecting realism into our optimism!