Preparation of concrete mix

Preparation of concrete mix

There are two types of concrete mixing

 (i)Hand mixing

(ii)Machine mixing

Hand Mixing: This method of mixing concrete is resorted to when the quantity if concrete to be used in a work is insufficient to warrant the necessity of machine. This is used with advantage in places where machinery cannot be used on account of their non-availability or in works near a hospital where the noise of machine is not desirable. Hand mixing is done on a clean, hard and impermeable surface. Cement and sand are first mixed dry with the help of shovels until the mixture attains uniform color. Aggregative are then added to this mixture and the whole mixture is then turned by shovels until the stone pieces uniformly spread throughout. After this, desired are quantity of water is poured into the heap from a can fitted with a rose. The mass is then turned until a workable mixture is obtained. It is advised to add 10% extra cement to guard against the possibility of inadequate mixing by this method.

Machine Mixing: The machine used for mixing concrete is termed as concrete mixer. Two types of concrete mixers are in common are

1. Continuous mixers

2.Batch mixers

Continuous mixers are employed in massive construction where large and continuous flow of concrete is desired. The process of feeding the mixing is more or less automatic. The machine requires careful supervision so as to obtain the concrete mix of desired consistency.

In batch type of concrete mixer. The desired proportion of materials are fed into the hopper of a drum in which the materials get mixed by the series of blades or baffles inside the mixer. Batch mixers are further two types 1. Tilting drum type 2. closed drump type. In the first type, components are fed in the revolving drum in a tilted position and after sometime the concrete mix is discharged by tilting the drums in the opposite direction. In the latter type the drum remains rotating in one direction and emptied by means of hopper which tilts to receive the discharge.

While using the mixer, coarse aggregates should be fed first, sand and cement should be put afterwards. In this revolving state, the components get mixed while water is poured with the help of can. The concrete should be for atleast 2 minutes, the time being measured after all the ingredients including water have been fed into the drum.