NIST Paul Macharia

CONCRETING PLANT
The selection of concreting plant can be Considered under three activity headings
1. Mixing. 2. Transporting. 3. Placing.
MIXING
Choice of Mixer
The factors to be taken into consideration when selecting the type of concrete mixer
required are
1. Maximum output required (m3/ hour).
2. Total output required (m3)
3. Type or method of transporting the mixed concrete.
4. Discharge height of mixer (compatibility with transporting method).
Concrete mixer types are generally related to their designed output performance,
therefore when the answer to the question
`How much concrete can be placed in a given time period, or alternatively `What
mixing and placing methods are to be employed to mix and place a certain amount of
concrete in a given time period has been found the actual mixer can be selected.
Generally, a batch mixing time of 5 minutes per cycle or 12 batches per hour can be
assumed as a reasonable basis for assessing mixer output.

Small Batch Mixers

These mixers have outputs of up to 200 litres per batch with wheelbarrow
transportation an hourly placing rate of 2 to 3m3 can be achieved. Most small batch
mixers are of the tilting drum type. Generally, these mixers are hand loaded
which makes the quality control of successive mixes difficult to regulate.

Medium Batch Mixers

Outputs of these mixers range from 200 to 750 litres and can be obtained at the lower
end of the range as a tilting drum mixer or over the complete range as a non-tilting

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drum mixer with either reversing drum or chute discharge. The latter usually having a
lower discharge height. These mixers usually have integral weight batching loading
hoppers, scraper shovels and water tanks thus giving better quality control than the
small batch mixers. Generally, they are unsuitable for wheelbarrow transportation
because of their high output.

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TRANSPORTING
The usual means of transporting mixed Concrete produced in a small capacity mixer is
by wheelbarrow.
The run between the mixing and placing positions should be Kept to a minimum and as
smooth as possible by using planks or Similar materials to prevent segregation of the
mix within the Wheelbarrow.

Concrete Pumps
These are used to transport large volumes of concrete in a short time period (up to
100m3 per hour) in both the vertical and horizontal directions from the pump position to
the point of placing. Concrete pumps can be trailer or lorry mounted
and are usually of a twin cylinder hydraulically driven format with a small bore pipeline
(100mm diameter) with pumping ranges of up to 85_000 vertically and 200_000
horizontally depending on the pump model and the combination of vertical and
horizontal distances. It generally requires about 45 minutes to set up a concrete pump
on site including coating the bore of the pipeline with a cement grout prior to pumping
the special concrete mix.
The pump is supplied with pumpable concrete by means of a constant flow of ready
mixed concrete lorries throughout the pumping period after which the pipeline is
cleared and cleaned.
Usually a concrete pump and its operator(s) are hired for the period required.

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Dumpers
These can be used for transporting mixed concrete from Mixers up to 600 litre capacity
when fitted with an integral skip and for lower capacities when designed to take a crane
skip.

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PLACING CONCRETE
This activity is usually carried out by hand with The objectives of filling the mould,
formwork or excavated area to The correct depth, working the concrete around any
inserts or reinforcement and finally compacting the concrete to the required
consolidation. The compaction of concrete can be carried out using simple tamping rods
or boards or alternatively it can be carried out with the aid of plant such as vibrators.
Poker Vibrators
These consist of a hollow steel tube casing in Which is a rotating impellor which
generates vibrations as its head comes into contact with the casing.

Clamp or tamping board vibrators

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Power Float
This is a hand-operated electric motor or petrol engine, Surmounted over a mechanical
surface skimmer. Machines are Provided with an interchangeable revolving disc and a
set of blades. These are used in combination to produce a smooth, dense and level
surface finish to insitu concrete beds.
After transverse tamping, the concrete is left to partially set for a few hours. Amount of
setting time will depend on a number of variables, including air temperature and
humidity, mix specification and machine weight. As a rough guide, walking on the
concrete will leave indentations of about 34 mm. A surfacing disc is used initially to
remove high tamping lines, before two passes with blades to finish and polish the
surface.

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