UNIT 7 CONCRETE VIBRATORS

I Structure
i
7.1 Introduction
i Objectives

7.2 Vibrators for Concrete

7.3 Types of Concrete Vibrators
7.3.1 Needle or Ii~ternalVibrators
7.3.2 Form or External Vjbrators
7.3.3 Vibrating Tables or Matform Vibrators
7.3.4 Surface Vibrators or Screeds

7.4 Summary
7.5 Answers to SAQs
i 7.6 Further Reading

7.1 INTRODUCTION
The process of compacting concrete consists essentially of the eliminatio~~ of entrapped air.
The oldest means of achieving this is by ramming or rodding ( i . ~ .Lamping)
, the surface of
h e concrele in order to d~slodgethe air and force the particles into a closer configuration.
The more modem means is by vibration, in which the particles are momentarily separated,
lllus ;~llowingthen1 to be drawn into a compact mass.

!! Objectives
By the end of this mil, you should be able to
.. familiar with the purpose of concrete vibrators, and
classify the various types of concrete vibrators.

7.2 VIBRATORS FOR CONCRETE

Vibrators are used for compaction of concrete after placement. Mechanical vibrating of
concrete has almost universally replaced the earlier hand tamping methods except for snldl
works. It is possible to place large volumes of concrete quickly and easily, particularly in
intricate forms and conlplicnted steel reinforcements through the use of vibrators. Thc mix
is not required to have a high value of slump tor requirement of workability, and there iq a
consequent saving in cement. Lesser cement content means lesser heat of hydration and
cooler concrete, which is a great advantage in mass concreting operations. The density of
concrete produced as a result of vibration is much higher than that which can be prtduccd
by hand tamping, and this concrete resists seepage better.
Vibrators are driven by petrol engines, by compressed air or by elecuicily. Pneumatic
vibrators are usually lighter and easy to handle and there are no elecrtical troubles or
h'wards. Petrol driven vibrators are handy units, useful where compressed air or electric
energy IS not available. With all types of vibrators regular servicing is very essential for
satisfactory operation.
SAQ 1
What are the various forms of motive power used for operating concrete vibrators?

7.3 TYPES OF CONCRETE VIBRATORS

There are four types of vibrators generally used:
1) Needle or internal
2) Form or external
 Equipment
MLM~~IIUI~O US 3) Vibrating table or platform
4) Surface or screed.
7.3.1 Needle or Internal Vibrators
Of the several types of vibrators this is perhaps the most common one. It consists essentially
of a needle or poker, housing an eccentric shaft driven through a flexible drive from a mot&.
The needle is immersed-inconcrete and thus applies approximately harnionic forces to it;
hence, the alternative names of poker- or immersion-vibrator. Figure 7.1 shows an
electrically driven internal vibrator while Figure 7.2 shows a petrol driven internal vibrator.
Pneumatic internal vibrators for small structures are of the type shown in Figure 7.3. For
mass concrete. 15 cm, pneumatic vibrators are commonly used (Figure 7.4).

E'igwe 7.1 :Electric Lnternal Vibrator Figure 7.2 :Petrol Driven Internal Vibrator

Figure 73 :PnwnPtic Internal Vibrator Figure 7.4 :15 a One-man Pneumatic Internal
Vibrator for Mass Coomete

The frequency of vibration varies up to 12,000 vibrations per minute (vpm); and a range,
between 3,500 and 5,000 has been suggested as a desirable minimum with an acceleration
of not less than 4 g.
The needle is easily moved from place to place, and is applied at 0.5 to 1 m centres for 5 to
30 sec, depending on the consistency pf the mix, but with some mixes up to 2 min may be
required. The actual completion of compaction can be judged by the appearance of the
surface of the concrete, which should be neither honeycombed nor contain an excess of
mortar. Gradual withdrawal of the needle at the rate of about 80 mm per sec is
recommended so that the hole left by the vibrator closes fully without any air being trapped.
The vibrator should be immersed through the entire depth of the freshly deposited concrete
and into the layer below if this is still plastic or can be brought again to a plastic condition.
In this manner a plane of weakness at the juncticin of the two layers can be avoided and
monolithic concrete is obtained. With a lift greater than about 0.5 m the vibrator may not be
fully effective in expelling air from the lower part of the layer.
Internal vibrators are comparatively efficient since all the work is done directly on the
concrete, unlike other t y g s of vibrators. Needles are made in sizes down to 20 mm
diameter so that they can be used even with heavily reinforced and not easily accessible
sections. A needle vibrator will not expel air from the form boundary so that "slicing" along.
the form by means of a flat plate on edge is necessary. The use of absorptive linings to the Concrete Vibrators
tbnn is helpful in this respect but expensive.
Inremal vibration is generally best suited for ordinary construction provided the section is
large enough for the vibrator to be manipulated. As each vibrator has an effective radius of
action, vibrator insertions should be vertical at about 1.5 times the radius of action. The
vibrator should never be used to move concrete lalerally, as segregation can easily occur.
The vibrator should be rapidly inserted to the bottom of the layer (usually 30 to 45 cm
maximum lift thickness) and at least 15 cm into the previous layer. It should then be held
stationary for about 5 to 15 sec until the consolidation is considered adequate. The vibrator
should then be withdrawn slowly. Where several layers are placed, each layer should be
placed while the preceding layer is still plastic.
Vibration accomplishes two actions. First, it "slumps" the concrete, removing a large
poltion of air that is trapped when the concrete is deposited. Then, continued vibration
consolidates the concrete, removing most of the remaining entrapped air. Generally, it will
not remove entrained air.
Table 7.1 gives the range and applications of ictemal vibrators.
Table 7.1: Range of Performance, Applications &Characteristics of Internal Vibrators

I
- - -

Recommended Average Centrifugal Radius Rate of

iameter Frequency Eccentric Amplitude of Concrete *
Group of Head Moment (cm) Action Placement
(cm) (operating
Concrete)
(HZ) in (cm-kg) (Operating (Operating (cm) (m3/hr)
in Air) in Concrete )

45 - 180 0.8-4.0 (A)

140 - 400 2.3 - 8.0 (B)
320 - 900 4.6-15 (C)
680- 1800 11-31 (D)
1100 - 2700 19-38 (E)
*msuming vibrator operates 213 of time concrelc is being placed and insertion spacing is 1.5 times the
radius of action

Notes:
A) For plastic and flowing concrete in very thin members and confined places.
May be used to supplement larger vibrators, especially in prestressed work
where cables and ducts cause congestion in forms. Also used for fabricating
laboratory test specimens.
B) Plastic concrete in thin walls, columns, beams, precast piles, thin slabs, and
along construction joints. May bc uscd to supplement larger vibrators in
confined areas.
C) Stiff plastic concrete (less than 8 cm slump) in general construction such as
walls, columns, beams, prestressed piles, and heavy slabs. Auxiliary vibration
adjacent to forms of mass concrete and pavements. May be gang mounted to
provide full width internal vibration of pavement slabs.
D) Mass and structural concrete of 5 cm slump deposited in quantities up to 3 m3
in relatively open forms of heavy construction (power houses, heavy bridge
piers and foundations). Also auxiliary vibration in dam construction near forms
and around embedded items and reinforcing steel.
E) Mass concrete in gravity damns, large piers, massive walls, etc. Two or more
,vibrators will be required to operate simultaneously to melt down and
consolidate quantities of concrete of 3 cum or more deposited at one time in the
form.
7.3.2 Form or External Vibrators
These types of vibrators are rigidly clamped to the formwork (Figure 7.5) resting on an
elastic support, so that both the formwork and the concrete are vibrated. As a result, a
considerable proportion of the work donz is used in vibrating the formwork, which also has
to be strong and tight so as to prevent distortion and lenkagc of mortar.
Miscellaneous Equipment

cOILL FIELD CORE

ROTOR CORE

Figom 7.5 :Fixed or Clamp m e Fonn (External) Vibrabr,

The principle of an external vibrator is the same as that of an internal one, but the frequency
is usually between 3,000 and 6,000 vpm although some vibrators reach 9,000 vpm. The
power output varies between 80 and 1,100 W.
Form vibrators are used for tunnel linings of such thickness that an internal vibrator cannot
be used.
When an external vibrator is used, concrete has to be placed in layers of suitable depth as air
cannot be expelled through too great a thickness of concrete. The position of the vibrator
may have to be changed as concreting progresses.
Portable, nonclarnped external vibrators (Figure 7.6) may be used at sections not otherwise
accessible, but the range of compaction of this type of vibrator is very limited.

ELECTRIC MOTOR

( 1 /BEVEL GEAR HANDLE ON VIBRATION ,

ELECTRIC MOTOR \ N ~ U U T ~ G MouNTs
FLEXIBLE SHAFT BEARING

TATING ECCENTRIC WEIGTH

WEIGHT

(a)Dimdy Coupled to Electlie Motor ( b) Gmmcted to EJectric Motor throupb a Flexible Sh&

mgurr 7.6 :Ma~ual'Qpe Fom (External) Vibrator

7.3.3 Vibrating Tables or Platform Vibrators

These can be considered as a case of formwork clamped to the vibrator instead of the other
way round, but the principle of vibrating the concrete and formwork remain unaltered.
The souice of vibration, too, is similar. Generally, a rapidly rotating eccentric weight makes
the table vibrate with a circular motion. With two shafts rotating in opposite directions the
horizontal component of vibration can be neutralized so that the table is subjected to a
simple harmonic motion in the vertical direction only. There exist also some small good
quality vibrating tables operated by an electro-magnet energised by alternating current. The
range of frequency achieved lies between 1,500 and 7,000 vpm.
When concrete sections of different sizes are to be vibrated, or for laboratory use, a table
with a variable amplitude should be used. Variable frequency of vibration is an added
advantage.
A vibrating table provides a reliable means of compaction of precast concrete and has the
advantage of offering uniform treatment.
Vibrating tables, electrically or pneumatically operated, are particularly useful for precasting
work.
7.3.4 Surface Vibrators or Screeds Concrete Vibrators

These consist of vibrating-pan or screed vibrators (Figure 7.7), which vibrate the concrete
from the surface -usually at the time the concrete is struck off or screeded. Surface
vibrators are usually used as screeds for slabs or pavements. They are considered effective
PRIME MOVER
AND VIBRATING UNI

SCREED BOARD

Figure 7.7 :Surface Vibrators or Screed

for a depth of about 20 cm. If more than 20 cm depth is to be vibrated, the ability to vib~ate
the greater depth should be determined or internal vibrators should be used in conjunction
with a vibrating screed. A vibrating screed is particularly useful as a screed for horizontal or
near horizontal surfaces.

SAQ 2
i) How does a needle vibrator compact concrete?
ii) Where would you use an 8 - 15 cm diameter vibrator?
iii) How does a form vibrator compact concrete?
iv) Where are form vibrators commonly used?
v) Where would you use a vibrating table for compacting concrete?
vi) Where would you recommend a screed to vibrate concrete?

This unit explained to you the various types of vibrators available for compacting concrete
in different situations.Advantages and disadvantages of each type were highlighted

7.5 ANSWERS TO SAQs

Check your answers of all SAQs with the respective preceding text.
MiscellaneollsEquipmeat -
7.6 FURTHER READING
1) Neville, A.M.(1977) :Properties of Concrete ,Pitmah ELBS, 687 pp.
2) Peurifoy,R.L.,Ledbetter,W.B.(1985):ConstructionPlanning,Equipment &
Methods,McGraw-Hill Book Co, New York, 4th ed,B83pp.
3) Stubbs,F.W.(1959): Handbook of Heavy Construction, McGraw-Hill Book Co, New
York.
4) Varrna, Mahesh (1979) : Construction Equipment apd Its Planning and Application,
Metropolitan Book Co, New Delhi, 3rd ed, 623pp.
5) Wadde1,J.J. (1974) : ConcreteCons~uc&ion Handbook,McGraw-Hill Book Co, New
York.