Construction Materials
RJ Lee Group specializes in the failure analysis, evaluation, and testing of construction materials and in service-life modeling of concrete structures using STADIUM® software.
Quality and durability ensure longevity.
April Snyder Industry Contact
Industrial Forensics Approach
RJ Lee Group is a unique, full-service laboratory with experienced consulting scientists in petrographic, chemical, and physical testing, who will scientifically determine the root cause of degraded performance, deterioration or structural failure. Typical materials that we investigate include concrete, mortar, brick, stone, tile, terracotta, pool plaster, aggregates and packaged repair products.
Petrography and More
Our petrographic experts will assist you in the examination of your cementitious materials and in the characterization of both new and historic construction materials. For more than 30 years, RJ Lee Group has been a leader in innovation and excellence in microscopy. We use standard ASTM, AASHTO, FHWA, DOT, BS EN, CSA, and other methods, when appropriate. We often need to go above and beyond standard procedures to provide the best possible resolution. For example, we conduct ASTM C856 petrographic analysis of hardened concrete and C1324 mortar analysis using both optical and modern scanning electron microscopy techniques to rapidly uncover the root cause of failure, often when others cannot.
In addition to identifying the most common causes of concrete failures such as alkali aggregate reactions (ASR and ACR), delayed ettringite formation (DEF), external sulfate attack, chloride intrusion, and freeze-thaw damage, we also can determine the as-built concrete mix design, identify supplementary cementitious materials (especially those with unique or unusual additives), and determine the actual construction practices.
We provide numerous additional services and techniques. We chemically analyze construction materials for chlorides, sulfates, organic contaminants, and metals. We investigate and perform analyses of architectural coatings, membranes and paints. We perform in-house physical tests for freeze thaw durability (ASTM C666), potential alkali reactivity of aggregate (ASTM C1260 and C1567), and porosity and chloride permeability tests (ASTM C1202), often in support of STADIUM® service life modeling software. For those services not provided in house, we may consult with an extensive external network of experts who provide additional data.
Engineering Support
Our industrial forensics approach combines our expertise in corrosion and concrete to support engineering firms in defining structural condition assessments of reinforced concrete structures as well as in evaluating historical construction for adaptive reuse. We are one of a very few laboratories certified to perform laboratory testing in support of STADIUM® modeling software and to run STADIUM® service life simulations.
The integrity of new construction is only as good as the quality and durability of the raw materials that go into it. Our experts will work with you throughout the entire construction process. We not only conduct investigations of problems that occur during the construction process, we can also evaluate and qualify your raw materials (cement, fly ash, GGBFS, aggregate, etc.) and provide quality assurance throughout the lifetime of your product.
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