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The FHWA Mobile Concrete Technology Center: Putting Innovation into Practice

January 08, 2026

<img loading="eager" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px; height: 100%; max-height: 515px;" alt="The FHWA Mobile Concrete Technology Center: Putting Innovation into Practice" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2026/Jan/January-2026-Blog-hero.jpg" width="715" height="415" /> Through the Federal Highway Administration Mobile Concrete Technology Center, concrete testing, equipment, and educational opportunities are delivered nationwide. Learn more about this mobile concrete lab and its initiatives in our latest blog.

Tags: Concrete Testing , Concrete , Field Testing , Laboratory

The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP): Applications and Equipment

May 08, 2024

<div><a href="/blog/dcp-test"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2024/may/dcp-testing.jpg" alt="DCP Testing Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>The dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) is an efficient tool used to perform soil strength assessments of fine-grained soils, pavement base courses, and more. Learn about the advantages of this tool compared to other penetration testing methods and how to perform penetration tests using the dynamic cone penetrometer.</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Product Insights , Field Testing , In-situ Testing , Soil Testing , DCP , Dynamic Cone Penetrometer

Soil Field Testing: Physical Properties of Soil

May 10, 2023

<div><a href="/blog/soil-field-test-article"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2023/may/soil-field-testing-article.jpg" alt="Soil Field Testing: Physical Properties of Soil" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Soil is a natural material and is sometimes employed as a construction material without modification. It is crucial to understand how it performs in its original (in-situ) environment. For this article, we will examine various field tests of soil and the equipment required to perform them.</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Equipment Selection Guide , Moisture Testing , In-situ Testing , Field Testing , Penetration Test , Soil Testing , Geotechnical , Soil Density , Permeability Test , Soil Foundation

Archive

Portable Field Scales: A Guide to Features and Selection

April 05, 2023

<div><a href="/blog/how-to-select-field-scales-article"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2023/april/field-scales-blog-article.jpg" alt="Field Scales Resource Guide" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Some test methods must be performed on the spot to ensure that the best products are being produced or placed following specified procedures. Portable weighing devices are especially important to operate accurately and conveniently in remote locations. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what to look for when choosing one.</p>

Tags: Resource Guide , Equipment Selection Guide , Field Testing , Digital Lab Scales , Field Scales , General Lab , Lab Equipment

Soil Sampling & Visual Classification, Methods & Procedures

August 03, 2022

<div><a href="/blog/soil-sampling-and-visual-classification"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2022/august/soil-sampling-classification.jpg" alt="Soil Sampling and Visual Soil Classification" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Performing geotechnical and engineering tests on soils in the field is a combination of necessity and practicality. In this two-part series, this first post looks at methods, procedures, and equipment needed for field sampling and visual classification of soils.</p>

Tags: Soil Testing , Geotechnical , Soil Sampling , Visual Classification , Sample Collecting , Testing Insights , Field Testing

Soil Sample Preparation: Saving Money in Your Geotechnical Lab

May 04, 2022

<div><a href="/blog/soil-sample-prepping"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2022/May/soil-sample-prep-hero.jpg" alt="Soil Sample Preparation" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>With a little thought and planning, you can avoid duplicating the equipment needed to perform many sample preparation tasks. Many ASTM and AASHTO soil tests performed follow similar techniques and use the same or similar equipment to set up samples for your soil testing.</p>

Tags: Resource Guide , Sample Prep , Sample Collecting , Field Testing , Soil Testing , Soil Mechanics , Geotechnical , Permeability Test , Consolidation , Triaxial Compression , Direct Shear Strength Test , Soil Cement , Unconfined Compressive Strength

Sand Equivalent Test Method Explained: The Purpose and The Process

March 03, 2021

<div><a href="/blog/sand-equivalent-method"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2021/March/sand-equivalent.jpg" alt="Sand Equivalent Method: Explained and The Procedure Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Fines and dust in asphalt and concrete aggregates have always been a problem. Whether naturally occurring or resulting from degradation during handling and transport, undesirable or unknown amounts of fines can impact the performance and cost of composite materials. This blog post discusses the importance, process, and procedure.</p>

Tags: ASTM D2419 , AASHTO T 176 , Testing Insights , Equipment Selection Guide , Field Testing , Quality Control , Sand Equivalent Test

Rebar in Concrete: Nondestructive Characterization of Reinforcing Steel

February 01, 2021

<div><a href="/blog/finding-rebar-in-concrete"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2021/February/detecting-rebar-in-concrete.jpg" alt="Rebar in Concrete: Nondestructive Characterization of Reinforcing Steel" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Advances in technology continue to refine concrete cover meters and rebar locators, which have been around for decades and used to locate and identify concrete reinforcing steel accurately. They are integral to nondestructive evaluations of reinforced concrete structures and pavements to prevent damage to the reinforcing steel within the structure when drilling or cutting reinforced concrete. This blog post explores the features and capabilities of some of these popular instruments.</p>

Tags: Resource Guide , Equipment Selection Guide , Testing Insights , In-situ Testing , Field Testing , Quality Assurance , Rebar Location , Rebar Locators , Cover Meters , Ground Penetrating Radar , Non-destructive Testing of Concrete

Setting Up A CMT Field Lab: Application-Specific Equipment & Considerations

December 02, 2020

<div><a href="/blog/cmt-field-lab-setup"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2020/December/equipping-a-cmt-field-lab-blog.jpg" alt="Setting Up A CMT Field Lab: Application-Specific Equipment & Considerations Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>In this month's blog, we examine the civil engineering laboratory equipment needed for typical operations performed where field laboratories for construction materials testing are required. With so many possible variations in specific project requirements, we break it down by application.</p>

Tags: How-To , Equipment Selection Guide , Field Testing , Lab Equipment