From the naturally existing water,concrete is the next widely used
product.Concrete represents the foundational aspect of every building
and structure thus special emphasis must be applied in the construction
to ensure high quality and longevity of the building is
attained.Concrete pumping equipment should therefore be selected with
caution and maintained to deliver good concrete free of air and well
mixed for high quality.
Functional Designs Of Concrete Pumps
Inevitably,during construction,certain areas will be inaccessible
for normal delivery of the concrete mixture. Concrete pumps are
specially designed to deliver this mix.Direct acting pumps are designed
to deliver concrete over more than 1000 meters horizontal distance, and
can rise the mix to 120 meters height.Therefore they have greater
functionality and can deliver greater volumes of concrete.
Peristaltic pumps operate through a vacuum system and can cover a
horizontal distance of 90 meters and an elevation of 30 meters.Pumping
of concrete also reduces handling which could affect the quality of
concrete.
Effect of Heat Evolution During Concrete Pumping
Heat results from cement hydration reactions and can result to
cracking once the cement has set.The intensity of these reactions is
determined by the amount of clinker in the cement itself.Frictional
forces during pumping could also lead to heat evolution and should be
minimized.
Rheology and Pumping
The flow rate of a concrete mix is a critical consideration during
pumping. Construction engineers use various techniques to determine this
flow rate to achieve longer lasting concrete structures. The Bingham
model is one of the techniques used for determining the interparticle
friction but is currently being replaced by rheometers.These equipments
have proved very useful in handling of self compressing concrete.
Critical Requirements for Pumping Concrete
Certain characteristics of concrete are important for a successful concrete pumping operation;these include.
- The concrete mixture should neither be too dry ,nor too wet for easy movement through the system.
- Friction is a major consideration in pumping and an adequate amount of water is required.Presence of a motar film at the walls of pipes also enhances lubrication.
- A higher percentage of cement is beneficial for concrete pumping.
- The size and shape of aggregate as well as presence of air in the mixture interferes with effective pumping of the mixture.Too much air could restrict pumping.
Enhancing Durability during Concrete Pumping
The transportation and delivery of concrete to the site affects their durability. Concrete pumps
must always be at their highest efficiency to avoid this delay.
Durability index is a method used to determine the stability and
hardiness of a concrete structure. Air may get introduced during pumping
and make the concrete unable to resist temperature fluctuations.This
leads to reduced longevity of the concrete.
Conclusion
The concrete pump is a critical requirement in delivery of concrete
to inaccessible sites. It helps reduce handling and delivery time of the
mix which are critical in the durability of concrete.Two particular
designs of concrete include the direct pumping system and the
peristaltic systems.Proper proportioning of mixed concrete enhances
setting,transporting and durability of the concrete.
This article has been written by Mitul Patel
