MCTC Operation & Research – FHWA
CLIENT:
Federal Highway Administration Contract DTFH611400040
SERVICES:
Program Management
CLIENT TYPE:
Federal Government
ATI ROLE:
Prime Contractor
LOCATION:
USA Nationwide
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Mobile Concrete Technology Center (MCTC) is an 18-wheel tractor-trailer that contains a complete, state-of-the-art concrete testing laboratory. Its purpose is to provide a nationwide workshop, equipment loan programs, and technical assistance to evaluate, showcase, and promote the use of existing and new technology relating to concrete durability. The program targets interested engineers in both government and industry promote a thorough evaluation of new equipment and techniques being developed from research and effectively transfers this technology throughout the United States. Central to this effort is assisting the State Highway Agencies to evaluate new equipment and test procedures on active project sites.”
ATI staff work with universities and research centers throughout the U.S. to evaluate new and prototype technologies/software pertaining to concrete mixtures, materials, test equipment, construction techniques, and practices. The new technologies that the MCTC acquires typically offer great potential based on research, but have not been proven on a wider scale. The MCTC staff evaluates new technologies in the field using a wide variety of geographical locations, materials, and conditions to see if the technology meets industry needs. Through this type of field testing, ATI provides valuable feedback to the researchers who can then make adjustments to their technologies thus, significantly reducing the technology refinement time. Once a technology is proven, ATI staff works with agencies to develop standard test methods for the new technologies or equipment.
