In this episode, Seth Tandett brings back Dr. Jon Belkowitz to unpack a powerful but often misunderstood tool in the concrete world—petrography. From diagnosing floor failures to proactively optimizing mix designs, Dr. Jon explains how petrography gives contractors, suppliers, and engineers a microscopic advantage. Whether you're battling ASR or just curious about those weird white streaks on your concrete, this episode is for you.
🔎 What’s Inside:
✔️ What petrography actually is—and how it applies to concrete
✔️ How SEM, NMR, and XRD tools help detect durability issues
✔️ Real-world case studies from flooring issues to nano silica research
✔️ Why more contractors should use petrography proactively, not reactively
✔️ What this type of analysis costs—and when it’s worth every penny
✔️ Dr. Jon’s shoutouts to the industry’s best petrographers
✔️ Why it’s getting harder to find great petrographers in the field
📈 CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro: Why Petrography Matters
01:30 – Defining Petrography (Latin Roots to FHWA Guidance)
03:00 – Reactive vs Proactive Applications
05:00 – Flooring Failures: Moisture, Salts, & Surface Analysis
07:30 – Microscopes Explained: SEM, Gas Chromatography & More
10:00 – ASR Gel Under the Scope
14:00 – How Data Helps Tell the Failure Story
17:30 – Proactive Use: Aggregates, Cement & Nano Silica
20:00 – Misconceptions About Petrography
23:00 – Dr. Jon’s U.S. Army-Funded Nano Silica Study
30:00 – The High-Tech Tools That Reveal Concrete Behavior
40:00 – Cost Breakdown: Is It Worth It?
43:00 – Top Petrographers You Should Know
45:00 – Final Thoughts: Use Petrography When It Matters Most
🎧 LISTEN NOW – Every concrete contractor needs to hear this one!
👨🔬 Guest: Dr. Jon Belkowitz
📍 Company: Intelligent Concrete
📧 Email: jon@intelligent-concrete.com
🌐 Website: https://www.intelligent-concrete.com
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📚 Recommended Resources:
ASTM C856: Guide for Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete
NIST Petrography Resources: https://www.nist.gov
Learn about ASR: https://www.blurb.com/b/8143619-the-abcs-of-asr
Top Petrographers Mentioned: Hugh Ho (WJE), Paul Stutzman (NIST), David Rothstein, Brian Wolf (SGS TEC)
🎧 Producer: Jodi Tandett
🎶 Music by: Mike Dunton
📸 Instagram: @Mike_Dunton
👀 Stay Connected & Watch More!
👉 Host: Seth Tandett
💌 Email: seth@concretelogicpodcast.com
👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/
📺 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast
🌐 Podcast Website: https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com
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