Concrete Workability Quantification via Bottom Resistance Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating concrete workability, particularly cohesion and water retention, are inadequate as they lack quantitative characterization and are not economically efficient or convenient for construction sites, relying on visual inspection and expensive laboratory equipment.
Innovation Solution
A quantitative evaluation method based on bottom resistance analysis that measures the displacement and velocity of a steel sheet inserted into fresh concrete, using a calculation model to determine the coefficient of colligation for concrete workability, allowing for comprehensive evaluation of cohesion and water retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual inspection and construction experience are used to evaluate cohesion and water retention, then the evaluation can be performed at construction sites, but the test results fluctuate greatly with differences of testers and lack of accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual inspection method with a rheological measurement system. The rotary rheometer measures plastic viscosity and yield stress, which are fundamental rheological parameters that objectively characterize cohesion and water retention properties, eliminating the subjectivity and variability of visual inspection methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the evaluation parameters from subjective visual observations to objective rheological parameters (plastic viscosity and yield stress). By measuring these physical parameters quantitatively, the method transforms fluctuating visual assessments into stable, reproducible numerical values that accurately represent concrete workability.
2Measurement precision
If a rotary rheometer is used to measure plastic viscosity and yield stress, then cohesion can be indirectly evaluated, but the expensive price and huge equipment volume limit its scope of application to the laboratory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive steel sheet as the testing probe instead of complex rheological equipment. The steel sheet is inserted into the concrete mixture, and its insertion resistance is measured, providing a cost-effective and portable method that can be deployed at construction sites without requiring expensive laboratory equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential measurement function from the complex rheometer system. Instead of measuring all rheological properties simultaneously, it focuses on extracting a single key parameter (insertion resistance) that sufficiently characterizes cohesion and water retention, thereby simplifying the equipment and reducing costs while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If slump method and Vebe consistency method are used to measure fluidity, then quantitative measurement is achieved, but there is no specific quantitative characterization of cohesion and water retention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal testing method that simultaneously characterizes multiple aspects of concrete workability including fluidity, cohesion, and water retention. By measuring insertion resistance of the steel sheet through the concrete mixture, the method obtains a comprehensive rheological profile that captures the interactions between all components, providing multi-functional characterization in a single test.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a quantitative evaluation method for concrete workability based on bottom resistance, including the following steps: step 1, carrying out a test for bottom resistance of fresh concrete; step 2, drawing a curve of inserting velocity of steel sheet over time; and step 3, quantitatively evaluating a concrete workability based on conditions of the bottom resistance. This method can quantitatively characterize the sinking condition of aggregate of the fresh concrete by effectively carrying out the test for bottom resistance of fresh concrete, calculating the inserting velocity of concrete and drawing the curves of displacement and velocity over time, so as to achieve the quantitative evaluation for concrete workability and overcome the defects of conventional methods that it is difficult to quantitatively characterize the segregation degree of concrete.