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- Aug 12
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All You Need to Know About Pumped Concrete
Pumped concrete is the concrete that passes through a pipeline channel with ease and does not cause segregation or bleeding.
Pumped concrete is massively used in the construction of buildings, especially high risen buildings, industrial materials that need high-grade, long-distance coagulation and construction of narrow sites.
During this process, concrete is transferred through the pipes from the mixing place to the construction site without delays of concrete placing.
The conventional method of transporting concrete causes delays, this is why it is advised to use the pumped concrete method.
To achieve a good flow of concrete in the pipes, there should be adequate water volume in the concrete.
The water should also not be too high as this will result in water moving too fast than the aggregates which lead to the expulsion and clogging of aggregates.
Requirements of Pumped Concrete
A good pumpable concrete should have a recommended slump value of 50mm to 150mm.
An adequate water-cement ratio is required. If the water is too high, aggregates of concrete will be blocked in the pipe.
The concrete should be at equilibrium, not too wet or too dry.
Make sure the pumped concrete is not adhesive.
Air entrainment admixture is proven to be helpful for the concrete transmission
Types of Concrete Pumps
We have different types of pumps that are used to pump concrete.
The major ones are a direct-acting pump and a squeeze pump.
Direct-Acting Pumps
This is the commonly used pump for pumping concrete and has a horizontal piston.
The aggregate is placed into the hopper of the pump. The pump will work in a reciprocal motion creating a suction pressure
When the motion is taking place, the suction pressure opens the inlet valve and the outlet valve remains closed
The required size of aggregate pumped should be less than ⅓ rd of the diameter to avoid clogging in the direct-acting pump.
Squeeze Concrete Pumps
The squeeze concrete pump transfers concrete by squeezing the installed pumping tube found in the cylindrical drum.
Truck-mounted Concrete Pump
This type of pump is mostly recommended for the construction of long roads and highways because of its significance in size.
It is usually mounted on a truck with an attached automatic robotic arm known as the boom which is controlled by a remote.
The boom arm is responsible for concrete placement as per the specified requirements.
Stationary Concrete Pump
This is a concrete pump that is small in size and is used for small projects like the construction of sidewalks and ground slabs.
They can be attached to a trailer and the concrete pump is mounted with a flexible rubber on the outlet of the machine.
The machine has the capability of being attached to other hoses for the concrete to reach the desired place.
Reasons for Blockage in Pumpable Concrete
Every machine has proper instructions that are to be followed. This means that if you are operating a concrete pump and you don’t follow instructions properly you will have a blockage.
The other cause of the blockage in the pump is friction that is caused by the high velocity at which aggregates are pumped on the pipe walls.
Another problem that can cause blockage is when water is forced out of the mix inside the pipe.
This water brings about the accumulation of huge aggregate particles in the pipe which blocks the entire process.
Up to You
Choosing the right pump for your project is not that difficult. Before choosing, look at its length, the diameter of the pipe, how many bends and how flexible is the length of the hose.
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