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The History of Concrete and the ASCE/MBT National Concrete Canoe Competition

It's in your sidewalk, the foundation of your house, and in countless buildings, bridges, roads and dams around the world. While concrete has become the most widely used building material in the world, it remains a mystery to many.

Modern concrete, which is a mixture of cement, aggregate, water and chemical admixtures, is the product of a remarkable 5,000-year evolution. The Egyptians were the first to use a cementing material. Lime and gypsum mortars were used to build the pyramids in 3000 BC, and were later used by the Greeks around 800 BC. The Romans, however, were the first to use an admixture to enhance the properties of the lime cement. Between 300 and 476 AD, they mixed pozzolana, a volcanic ash from Pozzuoli, Italy, with slaked lime to form the first "hydraulic cement" - cement that will harden under water. They used this durable mix to build the Appian Way, Roman baths, Coliseum, and Pantheon, all of which still stand today.

In 1824, Joseph Aspdin, a bricklayer and mason in Leeds, England, created "Portland cement." This was a precise mixture of limestone and clay that was finely ground and then baked in a kiln to form "clinker," which was then finely ground into cement. Today, Portland cement is a precise and reliable mixture of calcium, silicon, iron and aluminum, and comprises 98 percent of the cement produced in the U.S.

The history of concrete boat building dates back to 1848 when Joseph Louis Lambot built thin-walled reinforced concrete boats for use at his estate in Miraval, France. Concrete was also used to build barges during World War II to replace scarce steel supplies.

Since the early use of concrete in U.S. construction projects, such as the Erie Canal completed in 1825, engineers have advanced the technology to build skyscrapers, massive dams and other works. Today's concrete is being used by modern engineers in the design and construction of the world's next engineering wonders.

Today, engineers, as well as students in the ASCE/MBT National Concrete Canoe Competition, continue to advance concrete technology as they experiment with admixtures such as latex, superplasticizers, fly ash, and high-tech aggregates to develop extremely lightweight and super-strong concrete mixes.

This year marks the 17th anniversary of concrete canoe competitions on the national level. The origin of concrete canoe competitions can be traced to the 1960s when several ASCE student chapters held intramural races. Regional races began in the 1970s, and in 1988 the event went national when industry-leading admixture supplier Master Builders, Inc. became the sole corporate sponsor. Through the years, the competition has become highly competitive and is often referred to as the America's Cup of college civil engineering. Many teams spend an entire academic year working on their craft, most without academic credit.

Past Winners and Competition Locations

Year	First Place	Second Place	Third Place
2003	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Université Laval	University of Calif. Berkeley
2002	Clemson University	Université Laval	Oklahoma State
2001	University of Alabama-Huntsville	Clemson University	Oklahoma State
2000	Clemson University	Oklahoma State	Florida Institute of Tech.
1999	Clemson University	University of Alabama-Huntsville	Oklahoma State
1998	University of Alabama-Huntsville	Calif. State Univ.-Sacramento	Clemson University
1997	Florida Institute of Technology	University of Alabama-Huntsville	University of Calif.-Berkeley
1996	Univ. of Alabama-Huntsville	Michigan State University	University of Calif.-Berkeley
1995	S.D. School of Mines & Tech.	Calif. State Univ.-Sacramento	Michigan State Univ.
1994	University of Alabama-Huntsville	University of Calif.-Berkeley	University of New Orleans
1993	University of Alabama-Huntsville	Michigan State University	University of Calif. Berkeley
1992	University of Calif. Berkeley	University of Alabama-Huntsville	University of New Orleans
1991	University of Calif. Berkeley	University of Maryland	S.U.N.Y. Buffalo
1990	Michigan State University	University of Maryland	University of Calif. Berkeley
1989	University of Calif. Berkeley	Michigan State	University of N.H.
1988	University of Calif. Berkeley	University of N.H.	University of Akron

ASCE and Master Builders select one of the more than 250 ASCE Student Chapters and Clubs around the nation to host the ASCE/MBT National Concrete Canoe Competition each year. First held at Lake Lansing, Mich., the nationals were subsequently hosted by chapters in Lubbock, Texas in 1989; Buffalo, N.Y. in 1990; Orlando, Fla. in 1991; Fort Collins, Colo. in 1992; Sacramento, Calif. in 1993; New Orleans, La. in 1994; Washington, D.C. in 1995; Madison, Wis. in 1996; Cleveland, Ohio in 1997; Rapid City, S.D. in 1998; Melbourne, Fla. in 1999; Golden, Colo. in 2000; San Diego, Calif. in 2001; Madison, Wis. in 2002; and Philadelphia, Pa. in 2003.

For more information contact Joan Buhrman at 703-295-6406 or at cell phone number 571-213-3812, or Kelly Mawby at 216-839-7071 or at cell phone number 216-780-5964. Information can also be obtained at www.asce.org/inside/nccc2004/.

Founded in 1852, ASCE represents more than 133,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2002.

Founded in 1909, Master Builders, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative chemical and mineral admixtures used in the production of specialty and high quality concrete used in the ready mix, precast, manufactured concrete products, paving and underground markets. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Master Builders, Inc. operates as part of Degussa Construction Chemicals, the largest manufacturer of construction chemicals worldwide. The parent company, Degussa AG, is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany and is the world's largest specialty chemical company.

Baker Concrete Construction, Inc. — "A great company to work with and a great place to work." Baker Concrete Construction Inc., was founded in 1968 in Oxford, Ohio. Baker presently operates throughout the continental United States and is committed to building upon a tradition of creating concrete solutions from concept to completion into the 21st century.

CEMEX — a leading global producer and distributor of cement, and one of the largest ready mix companies in the U.S.

U. S. Silica Company —Produces high purity silica, kaolin, aplite.

The National Building Museum is America's premier cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning. The Museum is located at 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org.