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Ready Mix Concrete

General Introduction
Ready Mix Concrete is a specialized material in which the cement aggregate
and other ingredients are weighed at batch. Ready-mix concrete is concrete
that is manufactured in a factory or batching plant, according to a set recipe,
and then delivered to a work site, by truck mounted intransit mixers. This
results in a precise mixture, allowing specialty concrete mixtures to be
developed and implemented on construction sites. The first ready-mix
factory was built in the 1930s, but the industry did not begin to expand
significantly until the 1980s, and it has continued to grow since then.
Ready-mix concrete is sometimes preferred over on-site concrete mixing
because of the precision of the mixture and reduced work site confusion.
However, using a pre-determined concrete mixture reduces flexibility, both
in the supply chain and in the actual components of the concrete.
Ready-mix concrete is also referred as the customized concrete products for
commercial purpose. Ready-mix concrete, or RMC as it is popularly called,
refers to concrete that is specifically manufactured for delivery to the
customer's construction site in a freshly mixed and plastic or unhardened
state. Concrete itself is a mixture of Portland cement, water and aggregates
comprising sand and gravel or crushed stone. In traditional work sites, each
of these materials is procured separately and mixed in specified proportions
at site to make concrete. Read-mix concrete is bought and sold by volume usually expressed in cubic meters (cubic yards in the US). Ready-mix
concrete is manufactured under controlled operations and transported and
placed at site using sophisticated equipment and methods.

Storage Materials
Cement:- A cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens and can
bind other materials together. The word "cement" can be traced back to the
Roman term opus caementicium, used to describe masonry resembling
modern concrete that was made from crushed rock with burnt lime as binder.
The volcanic ash and pulverized brick supplements that were added to the
burnt lime, to obtain a hydraulic binder, were later referred to as cementum,
cimentum, cment, and cement.
Cements used in construction can be characterized as being either hydraulic
or non-hydraulic, depending upon the ability of the cement to set in the
presence of water.
Non-hydraulic cement will not set in wet conditions or underwater; rather, it
sets as it dries and reacts with carbon dioxide in the air. It can be attacked by
some aggressive chemicals after setting.
Hydraulic cements (e.g., Portland cement) set and become adhesive due to a
chemical reaction between the dry ingredients and water. The chemical
reaction results in mineral hydrates that are not very water-soluble and so are
quite durable in water and safe from chemical attack. This allows setting in
wet condition or underwater and further protects the hardened material from
chemical attack. The chemical process for hydraulic cement found by
ancient Romans used volcanic ash.

Aggregates:- Construction aggregate, or simply "aggregate", is a


broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including

sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic


aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined materials in the world.
Aggregates are a component of composite materials such as concrete and
asphalt concrete; the aggregate serves as reinforcement to add strength to the
overall composite material. Due to the relatively high hydraulic conductivity
value as compared to most soils, aggregates are widely used in drainage
applications such as foundation and French drains, septic drain fields,
retaining wall drains, and road side edge drains. Aggregates are also used as
base material under foundations, roads, and railroads.
In other words, aggregates are used as a stable foundation or road/rail base
with predictable, uniform properties (e.g. to help prevent differential settling
under the road or building), or as a low-cost extender that binds with more
expensive cement or asphalt to form concrete.
Preferred bituminous aggregate sizes for road construction are given in EN
13043 as d/D (where the range shows the smallest and largest square mesh
grating that the particles can pass). The same classification sizing is used for
larger armor stone sizes in EN 13383, EN 12620 for concrete aggregate, EN
13242 for base layers of road construction and EN 13450 for railway ballast.
The American Society for Testing and Materials publishes an exhaustive
listing of specifications including ASTM D 692 and ASTM D 1073 for
various construction aggregate products, which, by their individual design,
are suitable for specific construction purposes. These products include
specific types of coarse and fine aggregate designed for such uses as
additives to asphalt and concrete mixes, as well as other construction uses.
State transportation departments further refine aggregate material

specifications in order to tailor aggregate use to the needs and available


supply in their particular locations.

Late Entry of RMC in India


RMC is highly mechanized activity and entails initial high cost.
Especially due to import of basic equipment and machinery.
Smaller size of construction in unorganized sector highly competitive
and cost conscious.
Availability of abundant cheap labour for making and transporting
concrete.
Differential taxation between RMC and SMC. Especially before 1997
when excise duty @16% also existed.

Factors that promoted entry of RMC


Increasing stakes in the reliability and durability of construction of
emerging users.
Increasing stakes in the reliability and durability of construction of

emerging users.
Decreasing share of construction cost in overall cost of the facility.
Increasing awareness on environmental factors and convenience.
Globalization adoption of best practices across the globe.
Bigger size of projects and Time is recognized as a cost factor.

RMC in India
In India RMC was first initially used in 1950 during the constrction of
dams like Bhakra Nangal, Koyna. At the construction site the transportation
of concrete is done either manually or mechanically using ropeways or
conveyor systems. RMC Readymix (India) is one of the largest ready-mixed

concrete manufacturer in India. Set-up way back in 1996, it is one of the


pioneers of ready-mixed concrete technology in India. RMC currently
operates 88 ready-mixed concrete plants in 35 cities and towns across the
country. RMC also ventured into Aggregates business and operates large
quarries and crushers. At present, RMC has 8 quarries and crushers across
the country. RMC has been at the forefront in setting high standards for plant
and machinery, production and quality systems and product services in the
ready-mixed concrete industry. RMC plans to scale-up its capacity from 3.87
million m3 (2008-09) to 11 million m3 by 2014-15.
RMC Readymix (India) has the best of the technical abilities and systems in
the ready-mixed concrete and aggregate business, capable of delivering the
right quality products to the customer in the most cost-effective manner.
The Company tracks the latest technological developments occurring in the
sphere of concrete technology and adapts them to the needs of the Indian
market. It is one of the few companies in the country which has successfully
produced and delivered latest-generation special concretes such as highstrength, high-performance concrete, self-compacting concrete, fiberreinforced concrete, temperature-controlled concrete, etc.
RMC employs state-of-the-art plants and equipment and can boast of having
the best technical expertise and manpower in the Indian concrete and
aggregate industries.
RMC strictly adheres to all statutory requirements. It has a well-defined
policy on Health, Safety and Environment and follows strict norms to ensure
compliance.

Merits of RMC
Speedy construction through continuous mechanized operations

leading to economy.
Lower labor and supervisory costs assured.
Multi- transportation of raw materials for concrete is eliminated.
Controlled W/C ratio.
Close quality control of batching reduces variability of the desired

properties of hardened concrete.


Use in congested sites or in highway construction where there is little
space for a mixing plant and aggregate stocking.
Use of agitator trucks to ensure care in transportation, thus preventing
segregation and maintaining workability.
Minimization of cement wastage in view of bulk handling of storage.
It can be supplied with required slump and consistency
Useful additives like fly ash, plasticizers, and retarders can be added
to enhance the properties under controlled condition.

Demerits of RMC
As the Ready Mixed Concrete is not available for placement
immediately after preparation of concrete mix, loss of workability
occurs. In addition, there are chances of setting of concrete if transit
time involved is more. Therefore, generally admixture like
plasticisers/ super plasticisers and retarders are used. Addition of

retarders may delay the setting time substantially which may cause
placement problems. In addition, it may also affect the strength of
concrete. Therefore, it is necessary that the admixtures i.e. plasticisers
and super plasticisers/ retarders used in Ready Mixed Concrete are
properly tested for their suitability with the concrete. In case loss of
strength is observed, the characteristic strength may have to be
enhanced so that after loss of strength, required characteristic strength
is available.
Because of large quantity of concrete available in short span, special

placing and form work arrangement are required to be made.


Need huge investment
Not affordable for small project
Need effective transportation system
RMC should be placed within 90 min. (approx.) of batching at the
plant

Difference between Ready Mix and Site Mix


Concrete
Ready Mix Concrete
Consistent quality concrete is made in

Site Mix Concrete


Quality is inconsistent because mixing

high tech batching plant in

is manual

computerized system
Construction is double quick time
Raw materials are chosen after quality

Manual mixing is time consuming


Quality of materials is manually

check
Large quantity of material can be

checked
Repeated mixing is to be done for large

ordered for large project


Low wastage of Raw Material

quantities in project
High Wastage of raw material

Mixing Process
There are three types of process of RMC
Transit Mixed Concrete:- In transit-mixed concrete, also called truck
mixed or dry-batched, all of the raw ingredients are charged directly in the
truck mixer. Most or all water is usually batched at the plant. The mixer
drum is turned at charging (fast) speed during the loading of the materials.
There are three options for truck mixed concrete:
Concrete mixed at the job site. While travelling to the job site the drum is
turned at agitating speed (slow speed). After arriving at the job site, the
concrete is completely mixed. The drum is then turned for 70 to 100
revolutions, or about five minutes, at mixing speed.
Concrete mixed in the yard. The drum is turned at high speed or 12-15 rpm
for 50 revolutions. This allows a quick check of the batch. The concrete is
then agitated slowly while driving to the job site.
Concrete mixed in transit. The drum is turned at medium speed or about 8
rpm for 70 revolutions while driving to the job site. The drum is then slowed
to agitating speed.

Central Mixed Concrete:- Central-mixing concrete batch plants include a


stationary, plant-mounted mixer that mixes the concrete before it is

discharged into a truck mixer. Central-mix plants are sometimes referred to


as wet batch or pre-mix plants. The truck mixer is used primarily as an
agitating haul unit at a central mix operation. Dump trucks or other nonagitating units are sometimes be used for low slump and mass concrete
pours supplied by central mix plants. About 20% of the concrete plants in
the US use a central mixer.
Principal advantages include:
Faster production capability than a transit-mix plant
Improved concrete quality control and consistency and
Reduced wear on the truck mixer drums.
There are several types of plant mixers, including:

Tilt drum mixer


Horizontal shaft paddle mixer
Dual shaft paddle mixer
Pan mixer
Slurry mixer

The tilting drum mixer is the most common American central mixing unit.
Many central-mix drums can accommodate up to 12 yd3 and can mix in
excess of 200 yd3 per hour. They are fast and efficient, but can be
maintenance-intensive since they include several moving parts that are
subjected to a heavy load.
Horizontal shaft mixers have a stationary shell and rotating central shaft
with blades or paddles. They have either one or two mixing shafts that
impart significantly higher horsepower in mixing than the typical drum
mixer. The intensity of the mixing action is somewhat greater than that of
the tilt drum mixer. This high energy is reported to produce higher strength

concrete via to thoroughly blending the ingredients and more uniformly


coating the aggregate particles with cement paste. Because of the
horsepower required to mix and the short mixing cycle required to complete
mixing, many of these mixers are 4 or 5 yd3 units and two batches may be
needed to load a standard truck or agitator.
Pan mixers are generally lower capacity mixers at about 4 to 5 yd3 and are
used at precast concrete plants.

Shrink Mixed:- Concrete that is partially mixed in a plant mixer and then
discharged into the drum of the truck mixer for completion of the mixing is
called shrink mixed concrete. Central mixing plants that include a stationary,
plant-mounted mixer are often actually used to shrink mix, or partially mix
the concrete. The amount of mixing that is needed in the truck mixer varies
in these applications and should be determined via mixer uniformity tests.
Generally, about thirty turns in the truck drum, or about two minutes at
mixing speed, is sufficient to completely mix shrink-mixed concrete.

Grade of Concrete
Grade of Concrete

Assumed Standard Deviation


N/sq.mm

M 10

3.5

M 15
M 20

4.0

M 25
Specified
Grade

M 30
5.0
M 35Mean of the group of 4 NonM 40Overlapping
M 45Consecutive Test results in

Individual Test Results in


N/sq.mm

M 50N/sq.mm
(1)
M 15

(2)

(3)

> or equal to fck+0.825 x

> or equal to (fck-3)

established standard deviation

N/sq.mm

(rounded off to nearest 0.5

N/sq.mm) or fck+3 N/sq.mm


whichever is greater
M 20 or

> or equal to fck+0.825 x

> or equal to (fck-4)

above

established standard deviation

N/sq.mm

(rounded off to nearest 0.5


N/sq.mm) or fck+4 N/sq.mm
whichever is greater

Reference
http://www.pellresearch.com/us/ready-mix-concrete

manufacturing.html
R.S. Agarwal Concrete Technology
http://www.nrmca.org/aboutconcrete/howproduced.asp
http://elearning.vtu.ac.in/12/enotes/Adv_Conc_Stru/Unit5-RVR.pdf
http://www.nrmca.org/sustainability/RMCREF%20LEED%20Guide
%20Revised%2001-10.pdf

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