The document contains 3 summaries: 1. A project found that timber bridges made from glulam wood are a viable and cost-effective option for local roads that experience moderate traffic. The project was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation to explore low-cost bridge alternatives for South Dakota. 2. Researchers discovered a way to return shape memory metals to their original shape after deformation using a single crystal formation, which could help develop earthquake-resistant houses. These crystals are made from copper, aluminum and manganese using abnormal grain growth, a cheaper production method. 3. A civil engineer is developing a new concrete recipe to make structures more durable against deterioration from road salt used in winter.

1. Conclusion Report - Digital Magazine
Timber bridges viable option for local roads
A project is executed by civil engineers and they said bridges made
with glulam (kind of wood) are available and cost-effective, because it can be
used in cities where traffic is moderate. The U.S U.S. Department of
Transportation co-sponsored the project through the Mountain Plains
Consortium and the South Dakota Department of Transportation.
Their aim was make some alternatives to build bridges with low costs
in South Dakota. Besides, these kinds of bridges are less common than
others, but are one of the most ecological one, and is faster to build than
others.
Improving earthquake resistance with a single crystal
Some researchers from Tohoku University try to find a way to
economize the properties of some “shape memory” metals, as they called it,
and they found it. They discovered how to return metals to its original shape
after being deformed. And they know this could help with earthquake-
resistant houses.
These crystals are made with of copper, aluminum and manganese;
those metals have a lot of crystals on it. Researchers said this is caused by a
phenomenon known as “abnormal grain growth” and they developed it
because is a cheaper production method. This is show by scientist because
they explain by using this method crystals when it is exposed to heat grow
with irregularity.
A recipe for concrete that can withstand road salt deterioration
A civil engineer is working in a new recipe of concrete, because of salt,
houses and structures are being more deteriorated and they are more liable
to fall down. This is because in winter civil engineers used a lot of salt in
construction, at least 9.000.000 tons just in Pennsylvania.
The method is using less calcium hydroxide, and is create with created
a method for using fly ash, slag and silica fume, because he believes that
byproducts could be used to make concrete durable and cheaper, because it
uses recycled materials.
Yanny Cornieles. C.I: 26.914.552. Ing. Civil.