Ever wondered if a concrete parking lot was jointed properly? Have you ever had concerns about selecting a thickness for a concrete street? Do you know when you should leave the secondary reinforcing steel out of a project?

Designers and specifiers continuously face challenges when they build with concrete. Each new job presents unique opportunities and difficulties. Concrete seems like such a basic construction material, but it has almost limitless potential that most people don't know how to take advantage of.

MCIA receives frequent requests for assistance and information on many different aspects of concrete design and construction. We are ready to assist you when specifying and designing with concrete.

We can provide help in many areas, including:

• Specifications
  • Concrete Mix Designs
  • Admixtures
• Design
  • Thickness
  • Jointing
  • Secondary Reinforcement
• Problem Resolution
• Converting Asphalt Pavements To Concrete
• Concrete bridges and other structures
• Flowable fill
• Whitetopping

You may wish to take advantage or our extensive library of information, or you may want to seek professional assistance from our staff.

Technical Literature and Design References:

Our offices house a well-stocked library of reference material on concrete materials and applications. Items include publications, computer software and data, and videotapes. The American Concrete Institute Mid-South Chapter is run from the association office, and has an extensive collection of ACI documents and publications.

Sources of material include the Portland Cement Association, American Concrete Pavement Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, American Society for Testing and Materials, and others. Information can be found on a wide variety of topics including slabs, pavements, concrete fundamentals, quality control, finishing, insulating concrete forms, parking lots, decorative concrete, and concrete masonry.

Many of the resources are available on request at no charge. Other materials can be provided at cost. Some items may be checked out and returned through our library system.

Parking Lots and Site Paving

Concrete is durable and can offer owners a lifetime of maintenance free parking. This kind of success depends primarily on the designer's knowledge and the quality of construction. MCIA is available to assist you with parking lot specifications and design reviews.

Technical Bulletins

Most problems that occur with concrete parking areas can be attributed to problems with supporting soils or problems with jointing and reinforcing designs. Several technical bulletins about subgrades and subbases as well as jointing and reinforcing design are available upon request from MCIA.

Design Review

Today's designer must have knowledge about all types of construction material. Being an expert about all these materials is difficult, if not impossible. When deigning with concrete, a second opinion is available at the concrete association. Let the professional staff at MCIA review your designs to insure they comply with current industry recommendations.

Pavement Thickness Design