NRMCA's Obla Receives Prestigious ASTM Award

ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates has presented the Katharine and Bryant Mather Member Contribution Award to NRMCA Vice President, Technical Services, Karthik Obla. Dr. Obla (seen here with ASTM International Chairman Cesar Constantino at left and Member Contribution Award Chairman Steve Parker at right) was cited for his outstanding contributions in pioneering standards for pervious concrete as well as many contributions to supplementary cementitious materials, chemical reactions, ready mixed concrete, self-consolidating concrete, concrete’s resistance to fluid penetration, and the enhancement of cement and concrete technology standards.

The award was presented at the ASTM International December Committee Week held in early December in New Orleans.

The C09 Katharine and Bryant Mather Member Contribution Award is a Society Recognized Committee C09 Award presented not more than once in two years to an ASTM Committee C09 member who has contributed through technical excellence or other significant service to enhance standards development for concrete technology.

"His list of subcommittee membership is lengthy and includes 09.24 – Supplementary Cementitious Materials, 09.26 – Chemical Reactions, 09.40 – Ready Mixed Concrete, 09.47 – Self Consolidating Concrete, 09.49 – Pervious Concrete (Chairman), 09.66 – Concrete’s Resistance to Fluid Penetration, and 09.95 – Coordination. Under his leadership and as chairman of 09.49 for Pervious Concrete, the subcommittee developed, in a very short period of time, three ASTM standard test methods for the measurement of pervious concrete physical and performance properties," said Parker during the awards ceremony. "If anyone ever deserved the C09 Katharine and Bryant Mather Member Contribution Award it is Karthik Obla. His contributions to ASTM C09 and to the concrete industry as a whole have been enormous and impactful.”