C3S, Inc: Civil / Materials Engineering, Concrete Consulting, Expert Witness, Claims Investigation

Planning Phase: Evaluation of concrete ingredients for durability
Improper planning adds staggering additional repair costs for projects and
imposes safety issues on facilities and infrastructure. Get your project done right
the first time. The cost for repairs in the United States alone is estimated at
$18 - $21 billion annually, according to a recent industry report.

C3S, Inc. helps project engineers avoid potential repair issues and maintain their
good reputations in the industry by consulting during the planning phase.

Our planning phase consulting services include:
- specific recommendations on aggregates
- cement
- environmental factors and fresh concrete analysis / remediation

Aggregates
Choosing appropriate aggregates is key to reducing later issues with: lower
compressive strength, unintentional entrapped air, and unsuitable chemical
reaction (ASR).

C3S, Inc. performs tests on aggregate samples to determine suitability:
- C-131 Resistance to Degradation, LA Abrasion Test
- C-88 Soundness Test by Magnesium Sulfate
- C-289 Potential Alkali-Silica Reactivity (Chemical Method)
- C-295 Petrographic Examination of Aggregates
- C-1260 Accelerated Mortar Bar Test for Alkali Reactivity
- D-5313 Durability of Rock for Erosion Control

Cement
To help our client avoid potential cement problems, we perform chemical and
physical analysis and compressive strength testing to determine cement
category in ASTM C-150.

Environment
Environment surrounding a project may bring additional considerations that will
affect the selection of construction materials. Such factors as humidity level,
extreme temperatures and pollutants such as CO2 and SO3 may adversely affect
the resulting concrete. Using relevant environmental information, C3S, Inc.
advises clients on proper selection of materials and the use of additives to
mitigate potential problems.

Construction Phase: Fresh concrete testing for compliance
Concrete performance and durability depends on the condition of the fresh
concrete to meet project specifications.

C3S, Inc. provides on-site analysis to help project managers keep costs in check
by measuring:
- temperature of fresh concrete
- fresh concrete delivery time
- slump of concrete
- air content
- compressive strength of cast concrete

Using our process for mapping placed concrete, we quickly identify the
problem areas. As the tests are performed, we recommend immediate measures
to make corrections.

C3S, Inc. Projects - Construction Phase
Port of Houston Authority
Fresh concrete testing on Bayport Container Yard Project

Kingdom Builders Center Project
Testing and monitoring of concrete used in construction of a mega-church.

City of Houston
Pouring of concrete for downtown street maintenance project

TxDOT Quality Control of Beams for Bridge
Evaluating and monitoring concrete quality by petrographic analysis.