Concrete mixers are useful tools that have changed the construction world significantly. Concrete as a material has become fixed into the life of urban infrastructure, including concrete mixers. From the tallest skyscraper to the highways we drive on, we can see how concrete is used in our daily lives. It is a material which can be noticed anywhere, not surprising due to how commonly used it is around the world. Keep reading to learn more about the application and production of concrete.

 

All About Concrete

 

Concrete has proven to be an exceptional building material because of how versatile it is, with solid or malleable properties, depending on which stage of the curing process it is at. Concrete is composed of aggregates as well as rocks which are then mixed with a fluid cement. After some time concrete hardens into a rock-like mass because of a chemical reaction which occurs known as hydration. Once the concrete has hardened it becomes extremely durable and strong at a strength of 3000-20,000 psi. This is enough to hold up skyscrapers, dams, and bridges.

 

The Production Of Concrete

 

The production of concrete begins at a job site or a plant site. The equipment used varies from hand tools and concrete mixers to enormous industrial machinery. Despite the size of your production, the components of concrete need to be properly mixed, shaped, and moulded in a certain time frame. Disruptions in this process can have damaging effects on the appearance and integrity of the final product.

 

Large-Scale  Concrete Production

 

Concrete Production on large scale usually takes place in two different concrete production sites: central mix plants and ready-mix plants. On central mix plants all the components of concrete, including the water is mixed and this is best for accurate control. This mixing could be done using concrete mixers. And on ready-mix plants, a similar process is followed except for the fact that water is not included in the mix. Usually, concrete has been known to be a viscous fluid which is poured into different types of moulds to give whatever the desired shape may be. However, concrete can also be found in the form of a non-fluid. The dryer version of concrete is usually the preferred form for manufacturing precast concrete products.

 

Variations Of Concrete

 

There are quite a lot of types of concrete you can purchase on the market for your building needs. The following list will provide you with some common forms of concrete utilised in modern infrastructure:

 

1. High-Performance Concrete

 

High-performance concrete has higher workability, durability, and strength in comparison to ordinary concrete. This form of concrete has early-age strength as well as long-term mechanical properties. It also can withstand adverse and harsh environments and is not only resistant to shrinkage which minimises cracking but is resistant to creep as well. Its strength ranges from 10000 to 15000 psi.

 

 

2. Concrete (Ordinary)

 

One of the most popular types of concrete is ordinary concrete. Typically, this mix includes sand, coarse aggregates, and cement which is mixed with specific amounts of water. The setting time for ordinary concrete is roughly 30 to 90 minutes with strong values that vary from 1450 to 5800 psi. At curing day 28, 75% – 80% of the overall strength has been achieved, and 95% of the strength would have been achieved by day 90.

 

3. Lightweight Concrete

 

Any type of concrete which has a density that is less than 240 kg/m3 is known as lightweight concrete. This includes foamed concrete, autoclaved aerated concrete, and lightweight aggregate. This form of concrete can improve thermal abilities as well as fire resistance. However, lightweight concrete is far more susceptible to shrinkage and creep.

 

 

4. Precast Concrete

 

The process of making precast concrete involves casting concrete into moulds in a controlled and regulated environment. Once the concrete has hardened and set, the moulds are taken to the construction site. Next, the curing stage will begin under controlled conditions where the humidity and temperature can and is monitored. Sometimes stem curing is utilised in the production of precast products with high strength levels and less curing time.

 

5.Reinforced Concrete

 

Reinforced concrete utilises different types of steel as reinforcement. The mixture of steel, which has a high tensile strength, and concrete, which has a high compressive strength, gives reinforced concrete its unique and special strength qualities. It also has the capability of enduring various forms of stress in any form of construction.

 

6 .Previous Concrete

 

Through a series of voids and holes which are created inside of concrete, previous concrete allows for water and air to travel through. Water can drain naturally; this allows for the renewal of groundwater and allows for surface water drainage. It is a low-impact development material which is used in sustainable construction as well as protects the quality of water.

 

How To Apply Concrete

 

It is important to first determine the appropriate concrete type before you begin any type of concrete application. E.g. lightweight concrete is best used in home construction for building light concrete blocks. And reinforced concrete is best used for building materials which require high tensile strength.

 

Concrete has plentiful applications as it is quite a versatile material. Even though concrete is a malleable material it can also have tough characteristics which make it ideal for base materials such as; urban infrastructures, various precast products, and constructing buildings.

 

 

Materials Used In Building

 

Concrete is a widely used material in the construction of commercial buildings and homes, including columns and driveways. If you want to keep heat in, the best concrete to use would be insulating concrete as it traps heat inside the walls. Energy is reduced at a usage rate of over 40%. If you want to decrease nitric oxides which surround polluted environments by over 60% then it would be best for you to use smog-eating concrete. Just to add to the many benefits of using concrete and concrete mixers in concrete buildings, it is a material which can last longer and requires less maintenance. At the same time, it provides better indoor air quality. Additionally, concrete is resistant to wind, hurricanes, and fire.

 

Highways And Roads

 

Concrete highways and roads are quite durable and only minimal maintenance is required. Thankfully they are not susceptible to spring thaw load restrictions or rutting. Highways and roads are very tough, enough to endure continuous traffic of trucks which are heavily loaded.

 

Bollards

 

Another use of precast concrete can be seen used for traffic guidance devices, for example, concrete bollards. Concrete bollards cannot only offer impact protection and security from vehicles but also complement the surrounding architecture. Usually, they are reinforced with epoxy-coated steel rebars which add to their durability. Bollards made from concrete have been proven to be ideal in areas which are high in traffic, for instance, parking lots and building entrances to assist with the protection of furnishings and entrances.

 

Bridges

 

Concrete is one of the quickest materials to use for the construction of bridges and it is economically friendly; it is typically utilised for the construction of bridge superstructures, which are the uppermost portion of a bridge. This includes curbs, side traffic barrier walls, and sidewalks. This process can be finished competitively and efficiently when proper planning is done and by utilising precast concrete products such as concrete mixers. If need be decorative aspects as well as visual impacts can be added.

 

Dams

 

One of the most substantial and demanding structures which are made from concrete is dams. In Switzerland, the Grande Dixence Dam is approximately 6 million cubic metres of pure concrete. Steel is used in the dam as a reinforcement to add the maximum amount of strength to all the concrete properties. To ensure that cracking is kept at a minimum, water is used to circulate through the pipe inside of the concrete. How dams are designed requires you to be very careful when selecting which type of concrete mix and the correct amount and type of aggregate is used in the construction process. Along with this, it is important to use the correct construction tools which can include using concrete mixers.

 

 

Concrete Maintenance

 

Even though concrete does have resilient properties, concrete does still require adequate maintenance throughout its lifespan. Concrete requires you to clean it at least once a year to remove any dirt or grime that has been collected, including the removal of rust and other stains. It is also important to routinely repair cracks to make sure that the surface is structurally sound. If there is a failure to repair cracks, they could lead to water intrusion, which causes problems with the subgrade. To reduce moisture staining and infiltration periodic resealing of the surfaces needs to be conducted. This will also help prevent weeds and dirt from forming through any joints.

 

Recycling

 

Another amazing fact about the construction industry is that once concrete structures get demolished, what is left over is recycled for new construction projects, landscaping stones, mulch, and gravel. Concrete aggregates are gathered together and run through a machine which crushes the aggregates. If the concrete has steel rebars it will go through the same process, and the steel pieces found within are then removed with various sorting devices including magnets.

 

The main objective of recycling is not solely used to remove concrete from landfills, but to conserve energy throughout the reprocessing. Crushing left over concrete on the site eliminates the need to transport the concrete which serves to reduce emissions and costs. Plants which are large and road portable and able to crush concrete at 600 tons in an hour. If smaller crushes are needed this can take crushers up to 150 tons in an hour, including the benefit of fitter into smaller spaces.

 

Concrete Developments

 

Cracking is by far one of the greatest flaws to concrete. However self-healing concrete aims to resolve this issue. Once the crack in the concrete structure begins to appear this can leave the structure susceptible to corrosion from the steel reinforcements utilised in the concrete structure. Cracking can also pose immediate hazards- the toxic waste that some concrete containers hold can result in very disastrous situations if said concrete were to crack. This will also place the lives of many workers at risk.

 

About BS Power

 

It is important to understand the dynamic characteristics and properties for the construction of any structure when using concrete to ensure that you build a long-lasting structure which is safe.

 

You need to also understand how concrete is made, applied, and how to properly take care of this very material used in all of our everyday lives. Included in the understanding of concrete is to also understand the best tools and equipment to use when undergoing any type of project, big or small, which requires you to use concrete.

 

For the best tools, concrete mixers, and more, contact BS Power. Make sure to visit BS Power for trustworthy concrete mixers as well as all the materials you will need for your next concrete project.