Module-III
Fresh Concrete
Concrete Production
• Batching
• Mixing
• Transporting
• Placing
• Compaction
• Finishing
• Curing
Batching
• The measurement of materials for making concrete is known as batching. There
are two types of batching: volume batching and weigh batching.
• Volume batching : If you have some container, you can fill in the container with
aggregate and therefore volumetric one can measure. So, it was relatively easy or
less time consuming, for example one cubic feet a box, so just fill it with
aggregates, and that is volumetric basically.
• Volumetric batching for important construction is not desired.
• Weigh batching : is done through a lever-arm system (two interlinked beams and
jockey weights) for larger work sites.
Weigh batching
Continued…..
• You must have some kind of feeding mechanism might be
scrappers, conveyors or hoists to transfer the aggregate to the
scales that is to the balance.
• Here there is none of the separate balance, it must be a bucket
straight way where you can go on the mass that is added; we will
look at that a little bit more.
• The components, cement silos and conveyors screws or bucket
conveyor for transporting the cement from the silos because you
got to take it to the balance and then from balance to the mixing
mission. Then storage tank for water and water measuring system.
Control room
• You know there is a control room here; where you have the
computer on which everything is controlled and screw conveyors.
So, this one serves as screw conveyors, machine, particular one.
• There is another screw conveyor through which cements are
shifted from the silo to the mixture machine, and you have got the
mixture machine ending up somewhere here.
Mixing
Transporting
• Mortar pan
• Wheel Barrow, Hand cart
• Crane, bucket and rope way
• Truck mixer and dumpers
• Belt conveyor
• Chute
• Skip and hoist
• Transit Mixer
• Pump and pipe line
• Helicoptor
Placing
• It is the process of depositing the concrete in its required position within the initial
setting time of cement .
• Should not throw from a height to avoid segregation
• Layer of concrete should not be horizontal to prevent water running
• Layer should follow one layer by another before previous layer setting time.
• If placing is stopped / suspended for some time , grooves must be made for future
work of joining.
Compaction of concrete
• It is the process of expelling/escaping/releasing the air bubbles and give maximum
density to the concrete.
• Manual – tamping rod, spading rod, rammers etc.
• Mechanically – Compressed air or vibrator
• Column or thin walls are compacting by forcing a jet of compressing air through
it.
• Concrete of massive and important work done by internal or external vibrator.
• Types of vibrator – 1) internal vibrator 2) surface vibrator 3) shutter vibrator 4)
table vibrator
• Advantages –produce a denser and stronger concrete. Need less water for strong
concrete.
Curing
• The process of creation of an environment during a relative short period
immediately after the placing and compaction of concrete , favourable to the
setting and hardening of concrete is called curing.
• Types of curing :
• 1) Water curing
• 2) Membrane curing
• 3) Application of heat
Finishing
• Screeding : it is the levelling operation that removes humps and hollow and
provides a true and uniform concrete surface.
• Floating : It is the process of removing irregularities from the surface of the
concrete left after screeding
• Trowelling : Final operation of finishing . It is performed to get a smooth and
dense surface.
Workability
Compressive strength
Factors affecting compressive strength are:
• w/c ratio
• Degree of compaction
• Age of concrete
• Gel/space ratio
• Aggregate/space ratio
• Aggregate properties (size and shape)
Tensile strength
• Direct :- A cylindrical specimen with specified gripping length will be pulled
in tension machine to find out tensile strength directly.
• Indirect :- splitting tension test, flexural strength (centre point and `2-point
loading test)