Beautifully designed structures and buildings accentuate the aura of metropolitan cities. With advancing construction technology, we are building a better future for all. However, our accomplishment has a lot to do with adopting effective constructional practices.
With a large-scale development in the metro cities, where majorly high-rise projects are designed, architects, builders and engineers receive a lot of exposure but face difficult challenges too. However, the process of resolving these shortcomings with the help of better building practices, opens up a whole new arena of learning and experimenting, proving that with every setback, you will surely explore and grow more.
Challenges and Solution
While developing one such sky-high structure, we got acquainted with a concrete challenge. The problem areas were the segregation of concrete mix and the pumping of high-grade concrete above 100 m height vertically. To overcome this issue, we carefully observed the mixing behaviour and made necessary corrections such as changing the proportion of fines and using optimum dosage of high PCE admixture. It improved workability and cohesiveness of concrete, making it free from bleeding and segregation. These are important properties of a concrete and of course, non-negotiable since they improve transportability and placability of the concrete. Our engineers did a tremendous job in resolving this problem.
#Better Building Practices
- Though the challenge addressed here is more relevant to high-rise buildings, where higher grade concrete needs to be pumped at a certain height, yet, the properties described for the fresh concrete are applicable for general construction also
- When the concrete mix is carefully developed, the workability and cohesiveness of the fresh mix is enhanced
- These properties improve transportability & placability and prevent bleeding & segregation of concrete
- The concrete, which is free from bleeding and segregation is denser and less permeable in the hardened state, ensuring durability.
