Rizal Technological University

Pasig Campus

College of Engineering Architecture and Technology

CASE STUDY OF THE RUNWAY

CONCRETE AT THE DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Submitted by:
Lopez, Myca Angelique L.
Ombi-on, Denzel Al Simon S.
Pakingan, Joveralp B.
 I. BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

Denver International Airport (DIA) was constructed in early 1990 in the city of Denver,
Colorado. This is the largest airport in North America, and second largest in the world. DIA
replaced the old Stapleton International Airport, which allows Denver to have the construction of
the newest airport in US at that time and largest one. This construction was large and raises a lot
of controversies concerning the airports image. This includes their systems, the construction
itself and others. The most known controversy would be about the computer-controlled baggage
handling system. The new system was malfunctioning which causes many problems like
misrouted and jammed baggage and shutting down of system. This caused the delay of the
opening of the airport for a year, causing the airport expenses to rise over the planned budget.
This also caused the airport to be on jokes of many people.

Concerning engineering ethics, the problem during the runway construction would be a large
issue. In the year 1993, first reports about the concrete problems were raised. This is when the
subcontractors CSI Trucking file a lawsuit against the contractor Ball, Ball, and Brosamer
(3B’s), because 3B’s did not pay them for the materials (sand and gravel) that were delivered.
Unfortunately this will leave receipt that will prove the 3B’s were altering the recipe for the
concrete. This controversy was deemphasized. A year later, an announcement that the reports of
the construction were falsified, was out. Empire Laboratories, which tested the concretes,
reported that the results were fabricated in order to hide the truth that it did not meet the
standards. Though, four employees of Empire Laboratories claimed that the alteration of test data
was needed to achieve result and was based upon “engineering judgment”. But this alteration
resulted to a more questionable result where the concrete seems to be stronger on the first 7 days
than on its 28th day. In which, the result should be the opposite, concrete should be stronger as it
cures. Other problem about the concrete is that it contains clay balls, which will make the
runway much weaker than expected. On an article in Denver, questioning how 3B’s escaped the
monitoring of the concrete, one batch plant operator stated that when the inspector of the
concrete batching is coming to inspect the recipe, they would use the correct recipe so that it
would appear correct. There were also no records of materials delivered. A batch operator gave a
sworn statement stating that the computer were fooled by tampering the scale to measure the
cement, which results for the computer to print out correct mixture of concrete.

DIA still continue the operation of the airport as they insisted that the runways met the
specifications of FAA, although some parts of it were substandard. 3B’s have been paid for what
their services cost, but 3B’s filed a suit on the city of Denver saying that the city still owed them
2.3 Million USD. The city claimed that the money was not owed but the reduction for the
penalty they made. 3B’s still claimed that these allegations were wrong and concrete is fine.
Today DIA still operates, but the hazards of the altered concrete still remains.
 II. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The Denver International Airport’s runway construction’s problem would be the alteration of
the concrete’ recipe used by the Contractor 3B’s for the runways. This raises the question “Is
altering the concrete recipe so that it will cost less, save money and increase the profit,
ethical?” The alteration of the recipe of the concrete was also denied by 3B’s, claiming that the
concrete was fine. But these allegations were supported by the following minor problems that led
to the main problem.

 CSI Trucking filing a lawsuit against 3B’s claiming the dilution of the concrete with
gravel, sand and water with less cement.
 Denver’s district office announcement of falsification of inspection reports.
 Empire Laboratories’ altering of test results “based on engineering judgment” causes
the question of the result. The anomaly outcomes to fabrication of the report to make
the concrete seem stronger.
 Concrete containing clay balls making it weaker than planned.
 Concrete Inspection was also faked.
 No record of materials delivered.
 Sworn Statement of the batch plant operator regarding the tampering of computer
measure scales so that the print of result would have the correct mixture.

3B’s denial of the allegations, if proven, proves that they violated code of ethics. The safety
of the people will be at risk if the concrete were substandard.

III. ALTERNATIVES COURSE OF ACTION

The administration of DIA could take the following actions, but would take them money,
time and effort which would be a loss on their part. The following alternatives are taken into
consideration yet rejected for some reasons.

A. Instead of letting the runways be used, DIA should have sued 3B’s of the alteration of
concrete used in the runway, thereby letting them pay for the actions they made. The
money could be used to reconstruct the airport at that time.
Disadvantage: This would not be possible at this time, as the case is almost 3decades
behind. The evidences might not exist anymore, and the witnesses might be too old to
remember. The case will not be reliable as the proof is not good enough. DIA will also
spend money and effort with no assurance that 3B’s will admit their fault and pay the
money needed.
 B. Shut down airport and reconstruct the runways where substandard concrete were used.
Disadvantage: The proposed reconstruction would take time, causing the DIA to shut
down the airport during this phase, causing them to lose money. It will also be
inconvenient for most of the US passengers as DIA is the largest one in their country.

C. Instead of shutting down the whole airport, shut down one portion only per time
reconstruct this area, and then move on to the next one.
Disadvantage: This make took longer and be more costly. Also this may delay the
flight schedules that will make more issues to the airport. This might ruin their reputation.

D. Maintenance of the Airport’s runway.

Disadvantage: Maintaining the condition of the runway would take lots of effort. This
will not also be a long term solution. The runway today is being used and it does not
seem to have risk but in the future, the substandard concrete may cause accidents. Sooner
or later they still have think of a new solution.

E. Let the runway be used until the runway shows a sign that it is needed to be reconstructed
due to poor concrete used.
Disadvantage: This solution would be far too unethical. The safety of the passengers
might be at risk; therefore the administration must take action before the risk may even
appear. It will be a greater loss if the action is taken after the risk.

IV. PROPOSED SOLUTION

As of today Denver International Airport still use the constructed Runway by 3B’s. The
problem that the concrete used is substandard, may result to deterioration in the future. Thus the
proposed solution is that DIA administration makes a study on the concrete used to be able to
plan for the reconstruction they could do. With today’s technology it is possible that the
concretes life span be computed. Hiring an engineer with great skills and understands the code of
ethics would be a good choice.

If the study of the concrete is properly made, the administration could properly address the
situation. With the estimated time before the concrete could totally be deteriorated, the
management could save enough money, make programs and plan before the reconstruction be
done. In this scenario, they should make a program in which the problem will be solve with
minimal loss and cost in their part.

The solution to make a study on the concrete used to be able to plan for the reconstruction to
will only be possible if the conducted study will be done thoroughly, ethically, honestly and
correctly. The result of the study will be able to let them analyze the real problem they will be
facing and make proper actions to correct the mistake in the past.
 V. RECOMMENDATIONS

Problems with runway durability might surface after more years of use. We recommend
being alert and preparing on what might happen on the future. The airport management should

 Daily inspect the runways with any showing signs of deterioration.

 They should have a concrete monitoring program where data are calculated to
efficiently track the durability and safety of the runways.
 Then, they should prepare a rehabilitation program or a project planned early if any
showing signs of deterioration in concrete of runways occur to immediately aid the
problem.
 Let people be aware that the action that will be done is for the safety of the people.
This will allow them to be more patient and considerate in the actions that the
management would take in the future.