The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 16, 2005 - 3
'U' scientists create
bendable concrete
FINGER-LICKING GOOD'1
Concrete will be
used on Ypsilanti
bridge, could extend
road and bridge lives
By Ankit Sur
For the Daily
our bridges last longer," said Bill
Shreck, a MDOT spokesperson.
"This is a good opportunity for us
to examine the effectiveness of the
material. If it holds up it has the
potential to (be) used across the
state."
According to Shreck, with over
10,000 bridges in the state, bend-
able concrete could save the state
on a plastic bag, it does not rip, but
stretches. When these materials are
used to reinforce concrete, they
absorb some of the energy during
tension, giving concrete flexibility.
Li's engineering team built on
this idea, using the concept of add-
ing a special polymer fiber to make
concrete not only more flexible, but
to make it 500 times more resistant
Cracks and potholes have plagued of Michigan thousands of dollars on to cracks and 40 percent li
our roadways for years, but they may bridge repairs. and millions of dol- said.
become a thing of the past because lars on road repairs. Even though fiber-ri
of University scientists who have While traditional concrete has concrete has been around
created concrete that bends. impressive strength when com- 1970's, Li's team has been
Dr.. Victor Li, civil engineer- pressed, it is extremely weak under alter the internal structurt
ing professor at the University and tension. In the past, scientists and crete itself. They arranged
his team have developed "bendable engineers have reinforced concrete mer fibers inside concrete
concrete," also known as Engi- with steel bars or mesh. While these way that when the load on 1
neering Cement Composite. ECC efforts proved to be effective, they rial is high, the fibers absot
is much stronger and is also more did not end the engineers' battle very efficiently, giving it
resistant to crack and other anoma- against road decay. sile strength.
lies that have plagued the tradi- In the 1970's, scientists intro- Well before the bridge in
tional concrete used today. Using duced fiber-reinforced concrete, ti was planned, bendable
ECC to build roads would result in which contained special fibers like was used in Japan's Mihara
roads that may be able to last for nylon or polypropylene and others reducing the road-deck's t
ten years without repair in some to improve the tensile strength of from 230 millimeters wit
areas, Li said. concrete. However, scientists soon concrete to 50 millimeters.
The Michigan Department of discovered that the addition of "Even though ECC cos
Transportation has wasted no time these fibers not only increased the times more than traditio
enlisting the help of Li's team in tension strength but also made it crete, the material saving
order to build a more resistant more flexible. an overall cost saving," Li
bridge - this summer they will use The flexibility exhibited by fiber- Modern concrete is a m
bendable concrete to repair a bridge reinforced concrete is due to the cement, sand, rock and wa
in Ypsilanti. nature of the fiber. Nylon and other ditional concrete can cont
"We are employing the use of polymers can stretch when pulled substances, such as indus
ECC to save money and to make apart - that's why when you pull which alter its properties.
B-school receives $10 milli(
ghter, Li
einforced
since the
m able to
e of con-
the poly-
in such a
the mate-
rb energy
high ten-
Ypsilan-
concrete
a Bridge,
thickness
th typical
, Li said.
sts three
nal con-
leads to
said.
ixture of
ater. Tra-
ain other
trial ash,
TOMMASO GOMEZ/Daily
Medical student Kevin Kia participates in a rib eating contest
to benefit cystic fibrosis at Damon's Grill last Tuesday. Kla, who
won the contest by eating 48 ribs in 10 minutes, holds two state
records in eating contests, one for eating 14 tacos in two minutes
and the other for eating seven pounds of burritos in 10 minutes.
By Rebekah Hodge
For the Daily
1 The newly expanded undergradu-
ate program of the Stephen M. Ross
School of Business received a $10
million donation. Thomas C. Jones
made the contribution and said his
intention was to provide the students
with more real-world experiences
pertaining to their business or mar-
keting programs.
Jones said his goal for the donation
is to integrate a more advanced MBA-
like program at the undergraduate
level.
"It is my hope and intent that the
resources provided by this endowment
will enable the Ross School to offer to
future generations of undergraduate
business students an exceptional edu-
cational experience unattainable with-
out this support," Jones said.
Traditionally, Business students have
spent their first two years in the Col-
lege of Literature, Science and the Arts
before applying to the Ross School where
they transfer in as juniors. However, the
Ross School recently established a new
three-year bachelor of business admin-
istration program that allows students
to enter the program in their sophomore
year. This will allow students to study
business fundamentals earlier in their
undergraduate career in order to take
upper-level LSA and business courses
as upperclassmen. ate from Ross School of Business, sai
Jones said he hoped that his dona- that while he did not feel that there wa
tion will provide more action-based a lack of opportunity during his experi
learning, with emphasis on courses that ence, he was excited by the prospect o
integrate the necessary skills to solve additional resources.
complex business problems. For exam- "I hope that this gift can provid
ple, a potential course for undergradu- opportunities outside the classroom
ates would be "Strategic Management like technological and research advanc
of Knowledge in Professional Services es." Mirmelstein said.
Firms" where the students will be Jones recalled his own experiences a
involved in a business case competition a business student at the University.
with real company's executives. "The "I wouldn't be the person I as
Corporation in Society" course would today without the guidance and sup
allow students to visit companies and port I received from the Michiga
other organizations abroad and study faculty and staff." he said.
business issues.
"Students won't just live in a world of
finance or management. They'll have
a complete educational experience that N s o M
integrates all business disciplines to meet
the real world challenges," Jones said.
Jeffery Mirmelstein, a recent gradu-
d
as
-i-
of
e
n,
c-
as
m
p-
n
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