Why would you need ready-mixed concrete, and what does it do? What kinds of benefits and drawbacks come with ready-mixed concrete? Curious about this article’s subject matter? Of all the industrial materials in the world, concrete is the most productive due to its variety. Water, cement, and aggregate—typically crushed stone or sand—make up ready-mixed concrete. A certain ratio is used to blend these ingredients. Calculations and procedures are used to calculate this precise quantity, which is known as the mixing plan. Depending on the use and goal, sand particle size, water content, and cement ratio may all be employed to vary the resilience of the material and its usage in diverse environments.
what is ready mixed concrete?
Produced in concrete factories using high-tech equipment known as batching, ready-mixed concrete is the most precious building material. It meets all the standard criteria. Concrete mixer trucks are utilized to deliver the ready-mixed concrete to the construction site after the compounds are mixed in the factory according to the specified ratio. There’s a common confusion between the phrases cement and concrete. These are not, however, identical items. As an adhesive, cement serves as the primary ingredient in concrete. The cement used in ready-mixed concrete is most commonly Portland cement. Concrete’s strength and durability are primarily dictated by the proportions of its constituent parts, which are cement, water, and sand. Usually, each concrete cube is created specifically to satisfy the demands of the contractor. To guarantee you receive the ideal mix when buying ready-mixed concrete, it is crucial that you conduct thorough research and make direct contact with the factory.
How to produce and transfer ready-mixed concrete
There exist two distinct methods for producing ready-mixed concrete. All of the components for the designated kind of concrete are combined and prepared in the workshop or factory in predetermined amounts when using the first technique of creating ready-mixed concrete. Specialized machinery is used to move the finished product from the production process to the intended site. he second approach involves measuring everything exactly, transferring all the concrete mixtures to special trucks, and sending them to the project workshop. When producing ready-mixed concrete, the second approach works better since it ensures that the concrete will not lose its desirable characteristics and can still be used. However, keep in mind that this method has limitations. The amount of concrete is what we have to deal with.
The procedures involved in producing ready-mixed concrete
Sand, gravel, and cement preparation
Since sand, Portland cement, and stone are the primary materials of ready-made concrete, it is imperative to first prepare high-quality and standard products.
Note: Because the kind of cement greatly influences the strength and resistance of different types of concrete, you must purchase Portland cement in bulk from a cement mill in order to create concrete.
Combining cement and sand
At this point, a conveyor moves the cement and sandstone to a tank that has a mixer inside of it. A homogenous mixture is produced by mixing the cement and sandstone in a mixer.
Note: The technical officer determines the specific mixing time for each amount of specific sandstone and concrete based on the dimensions of the customer’s order.
Sand and cement mixture discharge
Once the material has been mixed for a predetermined amount of time, it should be funneled onto a plastic belt. The concrete volume and tank size can be taken into consideration while adjusting the funnel’s size.
Note: It is possible to prevent waste by moving the substance from the tank to the plastic tape.
Transfer the starting mixture into the main reservoir.
This phase of the production process for ready-mixed concrete is regarded as the most crucial. In this instance, the raw materials are rotated from the mixing tank to the main tank via the plastic belt.
Note: Less material should be placed into the tank to improve the quality of the concrete.
Add water and additional additives.
It’s recommended to hear that additives are also added to the concrete compositions based on the technical officer’s opinion and that the water tanks are immediately connected to the main tanks and mixers.
Mixing concrete
At this point, when the ready-mixed concrete manufacturing process comes to a close, additives and water from one side of the plant enter the main tank and mixer and are thoroughly mixed with each other.
Note: The factory’s capacity to create concrete is indicated by the tank’s volume. The factory will be able to service a greater number of clients if the tank is larger.
Concrete is moved to the mixer tanker and then to the project site.
The concrete production process is essentially finished after the quality control specialists approve the material, and it has to be transported to the project site. Concrete must be transported to the project site using mixer tankers. These mixers come in various quantities; thus, the appropriate tanker is chosen based on the quantity of concrete.
Note: Because concrete ages and loses quality over time, ready-mixed concrete manufacturers inspect their product on a regular basis to guarantee it remains high-quality.
Application of ready-mixed concrete
Depending on its strength and quality, ready-mixed concrete is employed in different stages of construction. The following list includes some examples of locations and applications for concrete:
- Columns and beams in concrete structures
- The Foundation
- Shear walls of concrete
- Bedding
- Dam Construction
- Concrete retaining walls
- Tunnel construction
- Security hubs and…
Different types of ready-mixed concrete
Ready-made concrete in a standard form
Produced from basic and uncomplicated concrete materials, this kind of ready-mixed concrete is definitely the most straightforward and extensively utilized variety. Using the appropriate sand, high-quality cement, an engineered mixing plan, and other components in typical ready-mixed concrete may save costs, lengthen the structure’s lifespan, and ensure that building resources are used as efficiently as possible. The design flexibility of standard ready-mixed concrete makes it popular in many different building industries.
Ready-mixed concrete reinforced with fibers
Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is a material composed of fibers. The short, discontinuous threads in this concrete are randomly oriented and evenly dispersed. Concrete may be enhanced with various qualities by the addition of steel, glass, synthetic, and natural fibers. Furthermore, different types of concrete have distinct properties, including density, shape, distribution, and orientation of the fibers, as well as variations in the fiber type. Among its benefits is that this kind of concrete makes the material stronger structurally. Additionally, excessive permeability is prevented by using fiber-reinforced concrete.
Ready-mixed roller-compacted concrete
Dense, or rolled compacted concrete has an extremely low water content and is created under high pressure and density RCC concrete is far harder than ordinary concrete and is mostly employed in the building of bridges and other constructions. This kind of concrete is incredibly challenging to create.
Ready-mixed Self-Consolidated Concrere
When it is placed in place, this particular form of concrete fills in all the voids well and compacts itself without requiring any mechanical pressure. It also has high fluidity and doesn’t shrink. Concrete slump, which is determined by the demands of the project, is thus extremely high density and, in accordance with standards, ranges from 455 to 810 mm Among its distinctive qualities is its viscosity, which makes self-consolidating concrete a popular choice for building projects.
When self-consolidating concrete is utilized, it is significantly simpler to pour and requires no vibrating or compacting. Concrete pouring expenses will go down as a result. The external surfaces of this kind of concrete are also polished and smooth, meaning no further procedures are required. Different geometric shapes that are impossible to produce with regular concrete may now be formed because of the fluidity and great efficiency of self-consolidating concrete. It is evident that concrete’s pumpability is enhanced by high efficiency.
Concrete for ornamental and architectural purposes
Architectural concrete is concrete that serves a structural purpose in addition to giving a structure a lovely look. Most often, structural sections are built using this kind of ready-mixed concrete. A specific kind of soft concrete is needed for the many techniques utilized in architectural design and building ornamentation in recent years. This kind of concrete is utilized for sidewalks, entrances, and pool surrounds. Concrete surfaces that are aesthetically pleasing or architectural can also be engraved.
Ready-mixed fluid-type concrete
Most often, pipelines and cables are caulked and mended using this kind of ready-mixed concrete.
The positive aspects of ready-mixed concrete
- A major benefit of ready-mixed concrete is its easy and simple availability. In contrast to handcrafted concrete, which needs to be created close to the project site in order to be utilized, ready-made concrete is readily transported by mixer machines from specific factories to the project site.
- Another benefit of ready-mixed concrete is that it can be applied more quickly. In construction operations, speed is crucial, particularly for large-scale projects.
- It has been demonstrated that ready-mixed concrete is of higher quality than regular concrete. It is comforting to know that worldwide standards and set criteria are followed in the production of ready-mixed concrete.
- For construction project managers, ready-mixed concrete also offers the benefit of cost reductions, which is crucial. This product’s simple installation means that, as a client, you may save a significant amount of money on both shipment and installation. Additionally, you may feel more at ease about the quality of these concrete products because they are manufactured to the highest standards, which reduces the need for ongoing maintenance and repairs.
- When applied, ready-mixed concrete is often regarded as a sturdy and long-lasting material that may strengthen a building’s defenses against earthquakes and floods. Special chemicals and additions are employed in the production of ready-mixed concrete, which significantly raises the grade of the material. As a result, ready-mixed concrete greatly improves the structure’s strength.
- Cement usage is decreased throughout the ready-mixed concrete preparation process. Cement usage in the production of ready-mixed concrete may be decreased by 10–12% with improved handling and mixing techniques. In addition to helping to cut down on cement use, the use of additives and other cement ingredients will also lower the cost of ready-mixed concrete.
- Because fewer skilled workers are required in the creation of ready-mixed concrete, there is less chance of human error.
The limitations of ready-mixed concrete
Selecting an ineligible concrete manufacturer
Due to the fact that ready-mixed concrete is produced in a different workshop, frequently outside of the direct control of the contractor and employer, you need to take greater caution when selecting a ready-mixed concrete factory. It is important to visit many concrete manufacturers and have a good look before placing an order for concrete. Then, compare costs and services to choose which factory is the best fit.
Ready-mixed concrete’s transportation time to the construction site
The time needed to transport concrete over greater distances from the factory to the building site is crucial because at a concrete batching plant, the components are mixed together, and the hydration process starts when the water reaches the Portland cement. The amount of time needed to transport concrete to the project site has a significant impact on the concrete’s ultimate quality. As a result, extreme caution should be used when choosing and composing additives. Any form of deficit might result in significant expenses for both parties.
Retarders: admixtures, and fly ash can be added to ready-mixed concrete for long-distance transportation to slow down the hydration process and extend the transport duration.
Note: The precise instant when concrete starts hardening is known as the first setting time of concrete.
Ready-mixed concrete shrinkage and cracking
Concrete shrinks as it gets wet. A 10-foot (3.05-meter) surface can see 1.16 inches (1.59 mm) of shrinkage in concrete. Engineers and other specialists who work with ready-mixed concrete should take this problem into consideration since it causes stress within the material.
Ready-mixed concrete: what is it? |
The highest-value building material is ready-mixed concrete, which is manufactured at a concrete plant using high-tech equipment known as batching in accordance with the necessary standard specifications and transported to the project site via mixer or truck.
How does ready-mixed concrete become used? Because of their strength and quality, ready-mixed concretes are utilized in many different sections, including floors, dams, concrete shear walls, building foundations, beams and columns, etc. |