When one thinks about the concrete mixer, we generally imagine them being used in construction sites in the middle of a large city or town; mixers are used consistently to help with the rapid expansion of cities across the globe. However, although we may only picture mixers being used in the city, they are actually used all around the world in order to aid construction in some of the harshest environments possible.

 

Whether it be the arctic, the desert or even underwater, there are times that people need to build in these places, and rely on the help of mixers to get the job done. In order to complete these sorts of demanding jobs, construction workers need the best possible mixers on the market. At BS Power we specialise in providing South Africans with various top-line tools and mixers on a daily basis.

 

In this article we want to highlight just how useful concrete mixers can be, no matter the environment. Below we have listed several different unique natural environments that each pose their own specific challenges to the building process and the functioning of mixers. We will look at how these challenges are overcome through the use of incredible technologies and ingenious problem solving.

 

 

The Arctic

 

Although South African construction workers generally don’t have to worry about building in extremely low temperatures due to South Africa’s generally temperate climate, there are places around the world where temperatures can reach well below sub-zero. No environment encompasses extremely low temperatures better than the arctic where temps have been recorded as low as minus sixty-nine degrees Celsius.

 

It is very easy to imagine how this sort of environment can be extremely hard to work in. From low light visibility, to how the cold affects materials, builders need to overcome these challenges on every arctic building site. So let’s look at two challenges commonly faced in this environment and the solutions that make building possible.

 

Challenge 1: Low Temperatures

 

The extremely low temperatures that are common in the arctic pose numerous challenges to the building process and the concrete mixing process. When mixing concrete, one of the primary components is water, so the most prominent challenge is the freezing of water before it can properly hydrate the concrete, which in turn will not allow the concrete to set properly.

 

Solution: Because this is a general problem for anyone building in the arctic, many solutions have been designed to combat the problem. The simplest solution however is to heat the water before throwing it into the concrete mixer. However, one must be careful that the water is not too hot as this could also impact the stability of the concrete. Today there are even modern mixers that have an insulated drum that can completely circumvent this challenge.

 

Challenge 2: Freezing And Thawing

 

Even after you are able to mix your cement, the arctic can throw you challenges. One such issue that may arise even after you have laid your concrete is referred to as the freezing and thawing cycle. Although you may have been able to control the temperature of the water within the mixer, once you have incorporated the cement into the building structure, it is exposed to the elements, where the water in the concrete can actually freeze and then thaw constantly due to the wild temperature fluctuations in the arctic. This can easily ruin the stability of concrete.

 

Solution: There are very few solutions to this problem – when initially making the concrete batch it is suggested to use a high performance frost-resistant type of concrete that is specifically designed for this environment.

 

 

Deserts

 

What do the Burj Khalifa, the Burj Al Arab, the Museum of the Future and the Dubai Mall have in common? These are all extremely large, unique and challenging buildings that were built in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Many of these places like Doha and Dubai are actually situated within what can only be described as a desert environment.

 

In many ways, the deserts found in the UAE are the complete opposite to the arctic. With soaring temperatures reaching as high as forty-nine degrees Celsius, and the large amount of fine sand found in these regions, the desert also has unique challenges builders have to face. So let’s look at a few ways construction companies overcome these issues in order to build the world famous structures listed above.

 

Challenge 1: Sand And Dust Contamination

 

When building is done in the desert there is one unavoidable obstacle and that is sand. Although sand is generally a part of the concrete mixing process, the amount of fine sand found in the desert can actually pose a serious threat to the mixing process. Sand and dust contamination refers to unwanted sand or fine dust finding its way into the concrete mix, this can easily throw off the balance of the mixture, making it unstable and ultimately unusable.

 

Solution: The best way to prevent this issue is to use what are called dust suppression methods, which you may have seen if you have ever witnessed a building project before. Workers will use water sprays or hosepipes to spray down the surrounding areas in which concrete mixing occurs, and this settles the dust and prevents it from entering the mixture.

 

Challenge 2: Temperature Fluctuations

 

Almost in a similar manner to the freezing and thawing cycle discussed above, the desert is also subject to large temperature fluctuations. Where the day can be extremely hot, in the evenings temperatures can drop dramatically. This poses the challenge of thermal cracking, which occurs in concrete when the change in temperature is too dramatic consistently, as the moisture in the mixture is impacted directly.

 

Solution: The most important time to protect the mixture in order to prevent thermal cracking is during the curing process, in which the cement settles and strengthens. Often, insulating blankets are used to cover the parts of the structure that are curing in order to prevent the temperature fluctuations, and allows the concrete time to settle properly.

 

 

Environments With High Altitudes

 

Have you ever wondered how the many temples in Nepal were built, or how the famous Machu Picchu was constructed at the top of a mountain? During those periods of construction there was probably no use of modern concrete or concrete mixers, which makes those structures even more impressive.

 

Even though, in our modern era, we have access to modern materials like thermal concrete and modern machinery like the concrete mixture, building at high altitude still poses as many risks and challenges as it did for those ancient builders who created those historic marvels. In this section let us review some of the main challenges that come with building at high altitudes.

 

Challenge 1: Atmospheric Pressure

 

Also referred to as barometric pressure, atmospheric pressure is one of the most prominent issues to deal with at higher altitudes. Geographic locations at higher altitudes actually experience less atmospheric pressure due to several scientific reasons related to air column weight and gravitation, and less pressure may actually sound like a good thing at first. But this reduced pressure can actually directly impact the hydration process of the concrete mix, and can lead to a weaker cement mix.

 

Solution: One simple way to overcome this problem is to simply adjust the mixture proportions to better suit the barometric pressure of the higher elevation. Although curing times may be slower it will not impact the hydration of the cement mix, keeping it strong. However, it is essential to monitor the curing process to make sure that the hydration process was not impacted.

 

Challenge 2: UV Exposure

 

As the altitude increases and atmospheric pressure is lessened, the rate of UV exposure also goes up due to less atmosphere to protect against the sun’s rays. The higher exposure to UV rays can actually begin to degrade some building materials including concrete and cement. Although the concrete mixer is not affected by UV exposure, builders must think of a way to combat UV in order to prevent early degradation.

 

Solution: Although UV degradation may have been an issue that ancient builders may not have been able to combat effectively, in our modern era there are actually some concrete that are made to resist UV rays, while there are still other products that can help treat UV exposure. In this way science has come a far way to resolving this issue when building at a high altitude.

 

 

Underwater Construction

 

Finally, it’s important to highlight one of the most challenging environments one can attempt to build in, and that is underwater. However, we are not referring to simply building just below the waves, but rather construction that happens far beneath the ocean, where the water pressure is incredible. Here we picture the building of underwater tunnels, or subsea pipelines that carry oil.

 

Of course, there are numerous challenges that have to be overcome through intelligent logistical planning when trying to build underwater. Not only is it difficult to get building materials to the construction site, but it is difficult to actually build at these depths. There are two common building problems that occur underwater.

 

Challenge 1: Washout

 

In some of the previous sections we talked about how the water in the concrete mixture could be affected by temperature based obstacles. However underwater builders have to worry about a process called washout or water contamination. This is where the actual concrete or cement paste used can be washed away by being overhydrated.

 

Solution: The main way to prevent this from happening is by using the concrete mixer to mix a more viscous mixture. In order to do this though you will need to add extra products to the concrete that helps prevent washout from occurring.

 

Challenge 2: Hydrostatic Pressure

 

When you build at a high altitude you have to worry about atmospheric pressure, and when you build underwater you need to worry about hydrostatic pressure. This is the pressure exerted by the water on the structure by the weight of the water above it.

 

Solution: The best way to deal with hydrostatic pressure when using concrete, is to make sure that you are employing a support framework for the concrete. With this specific placement needs to occur so that the structure can actually handle the weight of all that water.

 

BS Power: The Home Of The Versatile Concrete Mixer

 

While you most likely won’t be building on the top of a mountain or in the middle of a desert, you might still find yourself in need of some sturdy concrete mixers to get your project done. Here, at BS Power, we supply only the highest quality cement and concrete mixers on the South African market, and although your project may not be as challenging as some of the ones listed here, there is definitely a concrete mixer perfect for you at our store.