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The Spring 2025 newsletter of the National Concrete Consortium (NC2) has the following items: 

• Maturity Method for Early Opening of Concrete Pavements - The Spring 2025 NC² Moving Advancements into Practice (MAP) Brief from the NC² Resource Library explains how the maturity method can be used to facilitate the early opening of concrete pavements. In particular, the document focuses on the Nurse-Saul maturity method and outlines a general procedure for determining pavement opening time.

• Chemistry and Performance of Supplementary Cementitious Materials for Wisconsin Concrete Pavement - Researchers for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) investigated the performance of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and alternative supplementary cementitious materials (ASCMs). The testing covered chemical composition, x-ray diffraction (XRD), density, setting time, water requirements, particle size, reactivity and modified versions of the strength activity index and foam index. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations were made to be included in the WisDOT specifications and a framework for the evaluation of ASCMs was proposed.

• Effects of Additives in Deicing Salts at Lower Temperatures - The goal of this project was to investigate the effects of additives commonly used in deicers for winter road maintenance operations. The project explored laboratory and performance data on these additives and their qualitative and quantitative benefits, impacts and performance to sodium chloride (NaCl).

• Bio-Based Solutions for Concrete Infrastructure: A Review of Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation in Crack Healing - This article evaluates advances made in the use of microbial-induced carbonate precipitation as a form of concrete crack repair. It also reviews the topics of microbial action, sustainability and engineering application as related to microbial-induced carbonate precipitation in order to provide solutions and insight for researchers, engineers and other industry professionals.

• Development of Optical Fiber Light-Transmitting Concrete - A Review - Optical fiber light-transmitting concrete (LTC) allows light to penetrate concrete. This technology could be used to enhance pavement aesthetics or provide pavement markings in all weather conditions with low maintenance. To provide an understanding of the capabilities and properties of LTC, this paper reviews product preparation, light transmission mechanisms, mechanical properties, durability performance and microstructure. 

Click here for the newsletter which contains links to each of the above reports.