Events > Tilt-Up Convention and Expo 2026 - Salt Lake City > SESSION

Concrete Durability MythBusters

October 23, 2026 from 10:30am to 11:30am Mountain Standard Time

Sean Brown

Bryan Birdwell, FACI

The concrete industry has long relied on low water-cement ratios as a primary indicator of durability, while structural design requirements and evolving material systems continue to influence how slabs are specified and constructed. This session challenges several commonly held assumptions surrounding water-cement ratio, reinforcement, and slab-on-ground performance, examining where established design practices may diverge from field realities. With the growing use of Type IL cement and increasingly complex admixture systems, presenters Sean Brown, PE, SE, and Bryan Birdwell bring engineering and field perspectives together to explore how these variables affect placement, finishing, cracking, consistency, and long-term performance. The discussion will examine alternative approaches to mix and slab design with the goal of better aligning design intent, constructability, and concrete durability.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Evaluate the limitations of using low water-cement ratio as a primary indicator of concrete durability and examine the potential implications of higher ratios in slab-on-ground applications.
• Examine how reinforcement requirements and structural design assumptions influence cracking, constructability, and performance in slabs on ground.
• Evaluate how Type IL cement and modern admixture systems affect concrete behavior, placement, finishing, and field performance.
• Apply contemporary approaches to concrete mix and slab design that better align durability objectives with constructability and long-term performance.