Explore selected projects completed by C3S, Inc. across concrete evaluation, forensic investigation, materials testing, structural condition assessment, and failure analysis. Each project demonstrates our approach to identifying the cause of concrete and construction problems through testing, laboratory analysis, and technical evaluation.

LNG Plant / Aggregate Source Evaluation

The Angola LNG project required reliable local sources of aggregate for concrete construction. C3S, Inc. was engaged to evaluate aggregate sources from across Angola and identify materials that met project requirements while eliminating sources with durability or performance concerns.

Highway Soft Surface Probable Cause

During construction of Interstate 45 north of Houston near Conroe, sections of newly placed concrete developed a soft, friable surface during nighttime placement. Sand particles were removed from the pavement surface and blown against the barrier wall.

C3S, Inc. was engaged to determine the probable cause of the surface deterioration.

The Sugarhouse Streetcar

Concrete placed approximately 9–12 months earlier for the Sugarhouse Streetcar Project in Salt Lake City, Utah, developed sporadic surface defects, including areas where aggregate was exposed.

The Crown Castle Tower

Concrete at the base of a communication tower, reportedly placed more than 15 years earlier, was found to contain vertical cracks when cores were taken from the structure.

C3S, Inc. was engaged to investigate the concrete and determine the probable cause of the cracking.

Concrete Evaluation in a Navigational Lock

A 40-year-old navigational lock on the Kissimmee River exhibited deterioration along its concrete walls, including areas where cement paste had been removed and aggregate had become exposed.

Stakeholders required an evaluation to determine the cause of deterioration before repairs were undertaken.

Brick and Mortar Restoration AT Historical Site

During restoration work at the historic H.M. King School Building in Corpus Christi, Texas, mortar holding the brick masonry together was found to be weak, with several bricks becoming dislodged.

Structural Integrity Evaluation of Buried Concrete Water Reservoir

A 15-million-gallon underground concrete water reservoir at Memorial & Sabine in Houston, Texas, built in 1926, was being evaluated for structural integrity as part of negotiations for future management and potential reuse.

Asbestos-Cement Pipe Failure Analysis

Three pieces of an asbestos-cement pipe section were submitted to C3S, Inc. to evaluate the pipe’s condition and investigate potential failure mechanisms.

Aggregate Matters: Condition Assessment of Concrete Piles

The Port of Texas City, together with its engineering consultant LJA Engineering, engaged C3S, Inc. to evaluate concrete piles supporting platforms at Docks 40–41 as part of a periodic durability assessment.

The Evaluation of Blisters on Concrete Slab

Blisters developed across approximately 60% of a 20,000-square-foot commercial concrete slab less than two months after application of a proprietary moisture-mitigating seal coat.

C3S, Inc. was engaged to determine the cause of the premature blistering and evaluate the concrete and coating system.