Category: Concrete

Treating about 80% of San Francisco’s water since 1952, the Southeast Treatment Plant has been a critical structure for sanitizing the wastewater of San Francisco. However, the plant has been around for years, and now, many of its facilities need an upgrade.

Knowing this, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has started modernizing the plant. Part of this transformation includes replacing the treatment plant’s headworks facility with a new one. That will ensure the treatment plant will be able to more effectively remove debris and grit from the water while meeting the current seismic standards.

To construct this more modern headworks facility, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has collaborated in a joint venture with The Walsh Group Ltd. and Sundt. And we are pleased to note that we are helping The Walsh Group Ltd. optimize their work in this venture with our Maturix Smart Concrete Sensors.

Our Maturix specialist, Kris Till, got to discuss this in a recent video interview that he conducted (which you can see here). And in this article, you’ll get to see that discussion along with some extra details on the topic.

Why don’t we get started by having you tell us who you are, who you work for, and what you’re building?

My name is Tanner Santo. I’m a superintendent for The Walsh Group here in San Francisco, California. We are building the new headworks for the Southeast Treatment Plant. It’s going to be up to a 300-million-gallon-per-day capacity in the wet season. We’re looking at probably a good two years of structural concrete, which will primarily be my focus.

What do you consider to be the most important factor when building a project like this?

I think one of the biggest things I look for as a superintendent is to maintain efficiency while also preserving quality. There are a lot of moving parts and challenging logistics on this project. And what we need to do is just get our crews into a rhythm.

So, why are you monitoring concrete in this project?

That’s actually a very good question. We’re doing a lot of vertical walls on this job. I think we have 300 to 400 different wall placements. And the big thing for us is that we cannot strip those forms until we reach a minimum compressive strength.

What would you have done in the past to monitor your concrete compressive strength?

So, in the past, in situations like this, we pour a wall, say on a Monday, and take a bunch of concrete cylinders. By Tuesday morning, they’re sent off to a lab. If I want early breaks to remove the formwork, I need to take extra cylinders.

The extra cylinders can be costly when you talk about hundreds of wall placements. So taking and breaking extra cylinders for every placement adds up very quickly.

What’s even more of a hassle is getting those break results. So if I put in a 30-foot-tall [9.14-meter-tall] concrete wall on a Monday, Tuesday morning, I’m waiting on a testing lab to give me early breaks back and what I need them to tell me is that the concrete has reached a minimum strength. So in that morning time when I’m waiting for a break result or for the testing lab, I have a crew of guys who are basically not being efficient. They can’t strip the formwork yet.

nd what’s your current concrete monitoring process like now?

We put a few thermocouples with the Maturix Sensors into the wall at the time of placement, and thanks to the maturity curve that we’re able to calculate with the help of CEMEX, our concrete provider, we actually get a live readout of compressive strength. If we had never run this maturity curve for these sensors or monitored the live compressive strength with the sensors, I don’t think we ever would have realized how quickly we were getting concrete strength on this job.

It gives me a lot of temperature data as well. Had those sensors not been there, we wouldn’t have realized that we are working with a relatively hot mix. We now exercise some caution with some of those thicker placements that I don’t think we ever would have previously because we just wouldn’t have known what type of internal temperatures we were getting on this job. That information alone has been a big help as far as planning and scheduling goes.

It’s even so streamlined that I have notifications set up to my cell phone. I’m not waiting on a call from a testing lab. I’m not hounding a testing lab. I actually get a ding on my phone, but on this project, it’s a bit unique. It’s actually kind of in the middle of the night or the early, early morning when it tells me that a wall has reached 1,250 psi [8.62 MPa]. That way at 7 am, when the guys show up to work, we’re not waiting on anything. We immediately get to work taking the forms off. I know the wall has reached a compressive strength where it’s safe to do so. There’s really no second-guessing anything. And that helps with the logistics of cranes and organizing manpower.

Why did you specifically choose Maturix?

What made Maturix the number one choice was just the cost-effectiveness of it. A lot of the competitors have one-time-use sensors where you’re paying up around $100 a sensor and you embed it into the concrete. In every single pour, that’s $100 down the drain whereas Maturix technology is actually better because I don’t have to go around and capture the data with Bluetooth. It’s all done over a cloud network. It’s sent directly to my phone like I mentioned. I don’t have to pay someone to go around and collect data via Bluetooth. So in reality, I’m paying less for a better product.

So it seems Maturix offers cost-effective concrete compressive strength and temperature monitoring. It also documents everything related to this. Has that helped you with quality control procedures?

Yeah, definitely. It just basically organizes all our pours. I mean, I can go back to stuff I poured a month ago and see that Maturix records the exact time of placement.

What would you tell someone who is considering Maturix?

It’s streamlined. It’s easy. As far as cost-effective, it’s not even close compared to the competitors out there with the one-time-use sensors. And the labor you save in collecting the data is also a huge cost saving as well. So we’ve just been very happy with what these sensors have provided for us here.

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us. We really appreciate it.

No problem. You guys are helping us out a lot on this project. We got a good thing going here, so I’m happy to help out.

*Banner photo by Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The post Interview: Optimizing Concrete Compressive Strength Monitoring for a Treatment Plant appeared first on Kryton.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.concreteideas.co/?p=1163

Over the past year or so, you’ve gotten to learn about our latest product, the Maturix Smart Concrete Sensors, and the benefits they offer. Throughout it all, you’ve probably heard us mention the maturity method once or twice. It’s a concept that our wireless concrete sensors leverage to improve the process of concrete monitoring. But what is it exactly?

To answer that, we’ve brought on Marina Salvador, the instructional designer for the creator of the Maturix Sensors, Sensohive Technologies ApS. Read on to see her define the maturity method these sensors use, what the steps involved in this method are, and what you can do to learn more.

The Definition 

The maturity method is a non-destructive test method that can be used to estimate the early-age strength development of concrete. The main assumption of the maturity method is that if two samples of the same concrete mix have the same maturity, they will also have the same strengtheven if they were cured under different temperature conditions

Thanks to new technologies and smart maturity systems like Maturix, which uses wireless temperature sensors and cloud computing, the maturity method is now a fast and easy method to use for real-time strength estimation.

The maturity method has three main steps, which you can read more about below.

Method Step 1: Make a Maturity Calibration

A maturity calibration determines the relationship between the maturity and strength development of a specific concrete mix.

To find this relationship, you make some samples with the concrete mixture that you will use in your project and instrument some of them with temperature sensors. The samples are then cured under the same conditions, and the temperature history is measured using the sensors. Then, you need to perform break tests of the samples at different test ages to determine their compressive strength. Once that is done, plot the strength data from the break tests and the maturity from the temperature history in a graph. Lastly, find the best-fitting curve through your data points, also known as the maturity curve.

Note: You can add the strength results and maturity values in Maturix, and the system will automatically plot the maturity curve.

Method Step 2: Estimate the In-Place Strength

Once you have performed a maturity calibration for your concrete mixture, you can estimate the in-place concrete strength by placing temperature sensors inside your structure. These will calculate the maturity index in your concrete and relate it to a certain strength from the maturity curve.

Note: With Maturix, it is extremely easy to follow the strength development, as the software will display the results in real time, and these can be accessed remotely. Moreover, it is possible to set up alarms to get notified when the desired strength has been achieved.

Method Step 3: Validate the Maturity Calibration

Validating the calibration and maturity curve regularly is important because there might be small variations in materials, batching equipment, and conditions that might affect their accuracy.

To validate your maturity calibration, make some samples during the next batch and compare the strength estimated using the maturity method with the strength obtained from other testing methods.

ASTM C1074 strongly recommends not to perform critical operations without verification of the maturity calibration or without strength validation using other test methods.

Further Reading

To learn more about the three steps of the maturity method, we recommend you read these articles: “Maturity Calibration,” “Estimate In-place Strength with the Maturity Method,” and “Validating the Maturity Calibration.”

The post What Is the Maturity Method? appeared first on Kryton.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.concreteideas.co/?p=1142

If you’ve ever walked along a shoreline or under a bridge, chances are that you’ve seen what’s called rip rap

This rocky material is a form of crushed limestone that comes in a range of sizes. It can be anywhere from 4 inches to over 2 feet in width, depending on how fast the surrounding water moves and the steepness of the slope that it will be placed upon.

What Does Rip Rap Do?

The main purpose of rip rap is to prevent erosion on a pond bank, hill, or slope. Without this protection, roadways wash out, bridges become compromised, and property gets lost.

However, erosion prevention is not its only benefit. 

Contractors prefer rip rap because of its extreme durability and natural appearance. The reliability and affordability of this material make it the ideal choice for protecting bridges, pilings, shorelines, and streambeds from damage caused by water and ice.

Rip rap also buffers the impact of waves crashing against the shore and the force of water against the bank. In these cases, a larger grade (like our #1x4G) is installed over a textile for ultimate protection.

Where Can Rip Rap be Used?

Rip rap is most useful to structures or shorelines that are continuously exposed to rushing water. For example: near a bridge that’s located alongside an embankment, adjacent to waterway supports, and along a lake shoreline or the outer bank of a river bend.

It can also be used to build low-lying dividing walls or planting areas. In really steep slopes or high drainage areas, wire mesh or chain link is needed at the base of the decline to hold the rip rap in place.

At Port Aggregates, we offer three types of rip rap:

10lb rip rap (6-10”)30lb rip rap55lb rip rap

Regardless of whether you’re looking to prevent bridge erosion or simply trying to build a garden, we’ve got you covered. Our high-quality crushed limestone is available in a variety of shapes and sizes to meet your unique needs. Contact Port Aggregates today to request a quote

The post Rip Rap: The Original Rock Wall appeared first on Port Aggregates.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.concreteideas.co/?p=1136

There is no dearth of concrete ideas for you to choose from if you know where to look. Concrete is one material that provides many advantages and benefits. When you use concrete in your home or office, you get a lasting durable material that is very cost-effective. It’s a material that is available at relatively low prices and can be easily worked with by skilled laborers. There are several concrete styles, textures, colors, and patterns that you can use to create a wide range of interesting structures and homes.

The key to a successful application is to choose the right texture for the structure. There are a number of considerations that need to be made when choosing the right one. These will ensure that the concrete you apply looks attractive and is strong enough to withstand weathering.

You must first determine whether you want to build a garage, swimming pool or just build a plain cement floor. If you have a limited budget then you might think about using precast concrete slabs. For concrete ideas that are more expensive, you can also look at purchasing precast modular concrete units. These have a number of different options that allow you to build the concrete building of your choice.

You also need to consider other important factors such as the kind of color or pattern that you want. This will help you make the right choice of color. It’s important to pick the right type of finish for your concrete. In general, a good product should have excellent resistance to water, stains, and heat. In addition to the finish, you should also check for durability and longevity of the product. There are a number of different ways that concrete is finished such as painting, staining, or grouting.

You can also use imprinted concrete to create unique designs and patterns. An imprint is usually made on the top of the concrete slab by using a special injector. The concrete will then harden to create the desired design. This is one way of creating unusual concrete designs.

If you’re planning on installing the concrete yourself, you’ll need to plan ahead. This includes choosing the right site, pouring the mix and equipment for the job. Depending on the depth of your driveway, the right mix may be required. There are concrete companies that will make custom mixes for you based on your needs.

It’s also a good idea to hire a concrete contractor to help you install your concrete. A good contractor should be able to supply you with a variety of concrete ideas including the types of mix, colors, and patterns to choose from. They should also know how to create attractive finishes. The best contractors will be able to take your ideas and create an impressive display.

Installing concrete in your yard is a lot more affordable than it used to be. You can find affordable concrete ideas at any home improvement store or large chain retailers. Home improvement stores often carry concrete that costs less than half of what you would pay in a large construction company. Concrete prices will vary depending on the size and thickness of the concrete that is used. However, there are plenty of deals to be found if you do your research and compare the prices of several different contractors.

Concrete is also popular for creating patios and driveways. Concrete options are available for your walkway, patio, or driveway. You can also use concrete to build the walls of your new home. If you have a small amount of space, you can use concrete to build a playhouse for your children.

Concrete ideas for landscaping are everywhere. In fact, landscaping with concrete is becoming extremely popular. Concrete pavers are used to create walkways, garden beds, bazaars, and even entire landscaped gardens. You can create your own personal Landscape with concrete. You can purchase precast concrete, or you can build your own. All you need are simple tools, and some creativity.

There are several online resources that you can use to learn more about concrete landscaping. You can also research different ideas on your own. The great thing about researching your own concrete ideas is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home. You will be able to save money, time, and a whole lot of headaches. There are no rules that dictate how you should go about building your own Landscape.