Fly Ash in Asphalt

The article I read this week was about utilizing a by product of coal known as fly ash to help strengthen ashpalt.  Through the extensive research done in labs and on actual stretches of roads, the conclusion was that fly ash is a very good filler for ashpalt as well as being a recycled material.  The asphalt samples were put through a number of fatigue tests at different levels of fly ash being used and different types of fly ash as well.

I found this particularly interesting because I did this exact same experiment last year in one of my classes.  Clemson has an advanced asphalt and pavement design facility known as ARTS.  This is good to see how actual class work can indeed relate to the real world and create jobs as well.

Sustainability

This week I read an article discussing the pros and cons of the LEED ratings for sustainable buildings.  LEED is a new rating system which provides possible points for creating a sustainable building by reducing energy uses in many different ways.  The system is becoming more main stream and many universities such as Clemson are requiring any new or restored buildings to acquire atleast a LEED Silver certification.

This is helpful because it is forcing many builders and owners to become more aware about their energy use and the efficiency of their building.  It is also a bad thing because most people focus only on getting the points and not the reason behind getting the points.  It is more of a game than a lifestyle.  Once more people realize the meaning behind sustainability and then begin applying that into their construction habits will the world become a much more efficient atmosphere.

Architects and Steel

My major is Civil Engineering and the reading journal I chose is MSC, Modern Steel Construction.  The article "By God's Grace" by Anindya Dutta and John D. Meyer discusses a new Greek Orthodox complex to be built in NJ.  The combination of having a good architect and a good engineer is essential to building something impressive.  The difficulty is that the architects often create buildings that are not the easiest thing to actually build.

With this particular building, the church itself is circular and they decided to erect it using steel frames.  This is difficult because many of the steel pieces have to be prefabricated before they get to the site.  If they are not created perfectly then the building will not fit together like a puzzle.  Another problem is the large amount of field welding to be done.  With a dedicated team and attention to detail the building is able to be constructed.

Colbert on Wikipedia

I believe Colbert had a very interesting point of view on Wikipedia.  He often argues both ways in order to remain in his character.  He was able to prove how some one can deliberately post incorrect information however, he also made his point about high positioned officials often make incorrect statements. 

Nothing goes without mistakes.  Nobody is perfect, but as a reader or researcher, it is understood that you have to sort through the truth and the fake.  This happens all the time in our daily lives between what we read, hear, and see on television.