Upcoming ICRI-MNY Events 

Panel Discussion: 
Using Petrography in Your Repair Project

Club 101
Tuesday October 3rd, 2023
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Thin Section Petrography Slide

Petrographic analysis is generally concerned with the description and classification of rocks and cementitious materials by examination under a microscope. The application of petrographic techniques is an invaluable tool in the concrete repair industry, with petrographers  identifying and characterizing construction materials and their degradation mechanisms. Using petrographic analysis, the Architects, Engineers, and Conservators can better understand what has led to the deterioration of a concrete or masonry material and accurately develop the repair scope for a project, whether for new, existing, or even historic materials. 

Join ICRI-MNY and three expert petrographers for an evening panel discussion, with a brief presentation by each petrographer, a moderated panel discussion, and an audience-led Q&A session to learn about the science of petrography and how it can be applied to your construction repair project.  This discussion will be followed by a networking happy hour! Participants will earn 2.0 HSW credits, pending approval.   

Presentations:

Event Schedule:

Click Here to Register

Additional Info:

• Nearest Public Transit Stop: Grand Central - 42 with the S, 4, 5, 6, 7, Metro-North, LIRR

• Meal/Refreshments Provided: Light nibbles during registration, dinner during the presentations, and cocktails during networking

 Presenters: 

April Snyder is the Director of the Concrete Materials Laboratory and Principal Concrete Petrographer at RJ Lee Group, in Pittsburgh, PA.  She has  gained extensive experience and expertise in forensic concrete failure investigations and evaluation of concrete materials as related to performance and durability over the span of a 20+ year career.  She has broad knowledge of analytical testing and instrumentation and their application to problem solving for raw material and composite evaluations.  Ms. Snyder is a member of ACI Committees 201, Durability of Concrete and is chair of sub-committee 201-H Aggregate Reactions; and 221, Aggregates, and is Past President of the Pittsburgh Area Chapter of ACI, and active with the ASTM technical Concrete and Aggregate C-09 and C-01 Cement technical committees.

Karla Salahshour specializes in the evaluation and characterization of historic and modern building materials. Her work in Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.’s Cleveland materials laboratory focuses on the petrographic examination of concrete, mortar, grout, brick, stucco and plaster, natural and manufactured stone, and other construction materials. Ms. Salahshour’s laboratory work has included investigating the causes of distress in construction materials, characterization of cementitious materials, and the evaluation of durability concerns in hardened concrete. Ms. Salahshour also conducts field evaluations that often grade into laboratory testing, such as evaluating distress in concrete slabs and pavements, evaluating the performance of flooring and coating systems, and investigating distressed reinforced concrete structures. 

Karla is a member of the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT), American Concrete Institute (ACI), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the Society for Concrete Petrographers (SCP). She is a registered professional engineer in Arizona, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

John Walsh is the founder and president of Highbridge Materials Consulting, Inc. in Pleasantville, NY.  His expertise is in the characterization and performance evaluation of concrete and masonry materials with specialties in historical American masonry and aggressive service environments. John works with a small group of materials scientists and technicians to assist design teams and contractors with condition assessments and quality assurance on active construction projects.

John holds a Master’s Degree from Columbia University as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, and a B.S. in Geology with Honors from Queens College, CUNY.  He is a former Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation where he taught concrete history and technology to graduate students in architectural preservation and conservation.  John is an active member of the American Society for Testing and Materials and the Association for Preservation Technology International.  He is a voting member of the Society of Concrete Petrographers.