The building of your dream home or project is no simple matter, so if you want to build a home or project that is highly durable, versatile, affordable, and will stand the test of time, you can’t go wrong with selecting ready-mix concrete.
The building of your dream home or project is no simple matter, so if you want to build a home or project that is highly durable, versatile, affordable, and will stand the test of time, you can’t go wrong with selecting ready-mix concrete.
Ready-mixed concrete (RMC) is a mix of cement, water, sand, and gravel mixed and prepared in the batching plant based on the standard required specifications.
The first ready-mixed concrete plant was built in the 1930s, but the business expanded in the late 1980s. Since then, the industry has persisted in growth strongly.
Ready-mixed Concrete Elements
Cement is the component that gives concrete its true form and is the most important element in its formation.
Water is the mix's vital fluid, which sets off the chemical reaction when it comes into contact with cement.
Aggregate comprises sand and gravel or crushed stone, which often comes from quarries. It forms up roughly 60% and 75% of the volume of concrete.
Moreover, some solid or liquid chemical admixtures can be added during or before producing the concrete to increase its hardness and maintain its workability until it reaches the construction site.
Types of ready-mix concrete
Transit Mixed Concrete
It is known as dry-batched concrete because its elements are poured directly into the truck mixer. There are three sorts of this concrete as below:
Mixed at the Site: During transit, this type of (RMC) revolves in the drum at a slow speed of about two rpm. After arriving at the construction site and before pouring the mix from the mixer, it rotates at the maximum speed between 12-15 at 70-100 rpm. That ensures a smooth blend.
Mixed in Transit: It kept the mixture in continuous rotation during transport between 8 to about 70 rpm. After which, it slows down to 2 (RPM) until discharging the concrete from the mixer.
Mixed in the Yard: The truck mixer rotates at high speed from 12 to 15 revolutions up to 50 rpm within the loading area. The concrete is then stirred unhurriedly during transit time.
Shrink Mixed Concrete
The concrete is partway mixed in the manufacturer mixer before balanced mixing in the truck-mounted drum mixer during transit time.
Central Mixed Concrete
It is named the central batching manufacturer, where the concrete is mixed strictly before being poured into the concrete transit-mixer.
Advantages of Ready-Mix Concrete
High quality, as there is strict control over material testing during production.
Allows fast building, as the produce from a site mix concrete plant using an 8/12 mixer is 4 to 5 cubic meters per hour whereas it reaches 30-60 cubic meters per hour in the ready-mix concrete batching plant.
Saving cement consumption by 10-12%.
More eco-friendly.
More durable, saves cost and increases structure life.
Less dependency on human labor, which reduces the occurrence of human errors.
Deliver required quantities as per the specifications, on time.
Not demanded space to keep raw materials at the site.
Control and frugality in using raw accouterments, saving natural resources.
Disadvantages of Ready-Mix Concrete
The long distance from the concrete batching plant to the worksite of delivery may render the material unusable, which may require adding other admixtures (super plasticizers) to maintain the concrete workability. Here, the QA/QC engineer must inspect the workability of the concrete before operating it.
Traffic during transportation of the concrete can cause it to harden, which necessitates the addition of admixtures to delay the setting time.
It requires an initial investment.
Conclusion
Ready-mixed concrete includes types and methods that can be selected based on your project needs, bearing in mind that the use of multiple types of admixtures may increase the cost.
Ready-mixed concrete has its benefits and disadvantages, but the benefits outweigh them. The most important thing that makes you think about using it is that ready-mix concrete is more eco-friendly and saves the use of raw materials and energy sources.
The shortcomings will be minimal when you set up an appropriate plan to eliminate the possibility of their occurrence.
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