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40-year-old concrete stands test of time

By Eric Von Franklin, Fort Cavazos Public AffairsJuly 11, 2024

People in bright yellow vests and hard hats stand outside as they look around.
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A group of concrete and engineering professionals gather in a motor pool June 23, 2024, at Fort Cavazos, Texas. They stand around a core sample of roller-compacted concrete laid over 40 years ago, discussing how it has held up as military equipment became heavier. (Photo Credit: Photo by Eric Von Franklin, Fort Cavazos Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL
People sitting in chairs look on at a man standing and talking into a mic he is holding.
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Barry Bozio from the Fort Cavazos Directorate of Public Works speaks to a group of professionals about roller-compacted concrete during the Roller-Compacted Concrete Engineer Learning Professional Development Symposium June 23, 2024, at Fort Cavazos, Texas. (Photo Credit: Photo by Eric Von Franklin, Fort Cavazos Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL
An Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 sits atop a recently finished roller-compacted concrete slab June 23, 2024, at Fort Cavazos, Texas. RCC pavement can often be opened for heavy traffic 24-48 hours after placement, an advantage for use in many applications.
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 sits atop a recently finished roller-compacted concrete slab June 23, 2024, at Fort Cavazos, Texas. RCC pavement can often be opened for heavy traffic 24-48 hours after placement, an advantage for use in many applications. (Photo Credit: Photo by Eric Von Franklin, Fort Cavazos Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — The Directorate of Public Works, in partnership with the Cement Council of Texas, or CCT, hosted the Roller-Compacted Concrete, or RCC, Engineer Learning Professional Development Symposium June 23 to highlight RCC at Fort Cavazos.

Andrew Pinkerton, executive director of CCT, opened the event by emphasizing the importance of concrete and cement in construction.

“We promote the proper use of concrete and cement, whether it’s mission-critical or just the foundation for your air conditioning pad,” Pinkerton said.

A key highlight of the symposium was the inspection of a 40-year-old RCC pavement. Originally laid in 1983, this pavement has endured the test of time and heavy usage, including the weight of military tanks and other equipment. Participants were eager to see the material’s durability, and minimal maintenance needs, firsthand.

“We get to see a project underway,” Pinkerton said. “I’m most excited about seeing the 40-year-old RCC pavement and the type of equipment that has been on top of it.”

Ron Harris, who originally built the RCC pavement, attended the symposium and shared his insights on the material’s longevity.

“Seeing the durability of the 40-year-old RCC pavement is truly exciting,” Harris said.

Capt. Shawn Tham, a combat engineer from the 1st Cavalry Division, provided valuable insights, from a military standpoint, on the benefits of RCC during the symposium.

“One of the key takeaways was the potential of roller-compacted concrete as a quick solution for repairing craters caused by dropped ordnance,” Tham said. “RCC offers significant advantages in terms of reducing construction time, minimizing equipment requirements and optimizing personnel hours compared to traditional repair methods.”

Tham also highlighted the impressive longevity of RCC, noting installations from more than 40 years ago remain robust today.

“Observing that RCC laid over 40 years ago is still strong makes me feel confident that it can withstand the increasing weight of military equipment without incurring maintenance costs,” Tham explained. “It’s rare when equipment or structures within the U.S. Army are fully mission capable without ongoing maintenance.”

Barry Bozio from the Fort Cavazos DPW Engineering Division, who has worked with concrete for several decades, emphasized RCC’s lasting impact and future potential.

“Years ago, DPW and many others experimented with this and then overlooked its potential,” Bozio said. “The new generation of engineers needs to recognize its value. It’s cost-effective, quick to use and you can drive on it within hours instead of days.”

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