Effects of Admixtures on Energy Consumption in the Process of Ready-Mixed Concrete Mixing

Abstract

The production and utilization of concrete and concrete-based products have drastically increased with the surge of construction activities over the last decade, especially in countries such as China and India. Consequently, this has resulted in a corresponding increase in the energy used for the production of ready-mixed concrete. One approach to reduce the cost of concrete manufacturing is to reduce the energy required for the manufacturing process. The main hypothesis of this study is that the power required for mixing the concrete can be reduced through the use of mineral admixtures in the mix design. Optimization of energy consumption during mixing using admixtures in concrete manufacturing is the predominant focus of this article. To achieve this objective, power consumption data were measured and analyzed throughout the concrete mixing process. The power consumption curve is the only source to distinguish the behavior of the different materials used in the concrete in a closed chamber. In the current research, fly ash and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) were used as mineral admixtures to produce ready-mixed concrete. The experimental study focused on the influence of GGBS and fly ash on power consumption during concrete mixing. The results indicated that the use of a higher content of GGBS is more beneficial in comparison to the use of fly ash in the mix due to the lower mixing time required to achieve homogeneity in the mixing process. It was found that the amount of energy required for mixing is directly related to the mixing time for the mix to achieve homogeneity.

Case Study - Concrete Mixer’s Power Consumption and Wear Resistance on Mixing Blade

“…The literature review paper related to concrete mixer to reduce power consumption by changing the admixture quantity and effect of aggregate on the wear of mixing blades. Veerabadrasamy Arularasi 1 The alteration in power usage primarily stems from the diverse materials incorporated into the concrete mixture. Mineral admixtures employed in concrete exhibit distinct chemical and physical characteristics, causing each material to behave differently.…”

Microstructure and Water Retention Kinetics in Autogenous Cured Self-Compacting Concrete Blends Using Super Absorbent Polymer

“…Additionally, the manufacture of cement results in a rise in the carbon footprint, which is a significant problem that threatens the viability of the ecosystem [ 5 ]. Several options are conceivable to address this issue, including the use of alternative cementitious substances such as fly ash and silica fumes to cut down on the quantity of Portland cement required [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. The ability of structures to withstand chemical attacks, weathering, and abrasion resistance of concrete blends is a major problem when these alternative cementitious ingredients are used [ 11 ].…”

Coal Ash Enrichment with Its Full Use in Various Areas

“…However, the condition of the ash or slag does not always meet the specifications for fillers and may require additional enrichment or the introduction of auxiliary operations [ 40 ]. They increase the efficiency of waste ash utilization [ 41 ]. Researchers often use milling to increase the activity of fly ash [ 42 ].…”