/sci/ - Science & Math

>>7649442
You mean shitty concrete is shit.

It is sad that the more we know the more we use the knowledge to take short cuts. I have studied material engineering and worked part time in construction. I am constantly shocked at how poorly we build things on every level. What is more many good solutions are stuck in development hell or cost too much, often only because the new market is not yet big enough to get economies of scale.

Thing is every project needs a whole design approach which includes more then the cheapest or easiest way. But a quick way to grab markets used by many materials suppliers is price, so low everyone uses it even if it is not the best. Or easy of install, so easy why get a professional when I can do it myself. The result is often devastation but by that time such practices are often codified for safety to the point better ideas can not be used.

It was better bonding chemistry in concrete, we just started relying on the chemistry without thinking about the rest of the design. I mean we even have fast dry concrete that says "just add water" on the bag. You think a skilled concrete worker from the 1930s would even think about using this stuff? Don't get me wrong that new tech is useful and can make things better, just not for every project and more so if used by a typical contractor who doesn't have a decent skill level.