Rules and methods for transporting ready-mixed concrete

In order to guarantee the material’s quality and integrity when it arrives at the construction site, ready-mixed concrete must be transported. To avoid segregation, premature setting, and other problems that could impair the performance of the concrete, the process calls for meticulous planning and strict adherence to predetermined guidelines.

Maintaining the uniformity and workability of the ready-mixed concrete is the main goal during transportation. This entails utilizing the proper transportation tools, like agitators or transit mixers, which are made to keep the concrete moving and stop it from setting too quickly. The right approach will depend on a number of variables, including the project’s specific requirements, the weather, and the distance.

Using truck mixers to transport concrete is one of the most popular methods. The concrete in these trucks is kept in motion during transit by revolving drums, which guarantee homogeneity. The concrete can be mixed more thoroughly or kept in a pour-ready state by varying the speed at which the drum rotates.

Timing is a crucial component of concrete transportation. To prevent any delays that could lower the quality of the concrete, it must be delivered to the site within a specific amount of time. Risks can be reduced and the material delivered on time for immediate use by carefully planning ahead and coordinating with the concrete supplier.

The transportation of ready-mixed concrete is significantly influenced by environmental factors as well. Cold weather can slow down the setting process, while high temperatures can speed it up. To maintain ideal conditions during transit, protective measures like insulating the concrete or applying temperature control techniques are required.

In general, careful planning, timely execution, and attention to environmental considerations are necessary for the effective transportation of ready-mixed concrete. Construction teams can guarantee that the quality of the concrete is maintained from the mixing plant to the final placement by adhering to established guidelines and procedures.

To guarantee the quality and workability of the concrete upon delivery, transporting ready-mixed concrete necessitates meticulous planning and strict adherence to regulations. This entails managing variables like travel time, temperature, and traffic conditions in addition to choosing the best mode of transportation, such as agitator trucks or truck mixers. In order to avoid segregation and premature setting, proper handling during loading, transit, and unloading is essential. Contractors can preserve the integrity of the concrete and guarantee that it is ready for use right away at the construction site by adhering to these guidelines, which will ultimately help construction projects succeed.

What are the consequences of improper transportation of concrete

The following factors may cause the concrete mixture’s quality attributes to decline:

  • Strong vibration (shaking) during transportation. In this case, stratification of the mixture most often occurs. Heavier components (crushed stone, gravel) of the composition settle down, and lighter ones (for example, cement milk), on the contrary, move up. This is what most often happens when transporting by dump truck.
  • Mixture immobility for 50 minutes or more. The mixture simply begins to set. This process is greatly accelerated on a hot day. This problem, again, often occurs during transportation by conventional dump trucks.
  • Mixture overcooling. This leads to the fact that the composition will not set in the future.
  • Overheating. At elevated transportation temperatures, concrete quickly thickens. As a rule, in such situations it is very difficult to unload it.

Features of concrete mix setting

The mixture hardens during thickening (setting), which is the start of the strength-gaining process. The mix’s composition affects how long it takes to set. For instance, the C3A and C3S types of clinker minerals are the first to react. The type of minerals that Portland cement contains influences how long the mix will maintain the required properties.

  • C3S – alite or the main component of clinker (it can be 40-60%). C3S quickly reacts with water, and at the initial stage.
  • C2S – white. It has less activity (compared to C3S). It differs in low heat input. It hardens very slowly.
  • C3A – three -calcium aluminum. The most active mineral that can be in the clinker. He quickly reacts with moisture and begins to generate heat. Often such a clinker is called "fast", since it grabs very quickly. When using such a composition, you need to make sure that gypsum was added to the mixture, which will slightly slow down the setting process. Otherwise, such concrete will not reach the customer.
  • C4AF – four -caulsium alumo -fuel itself. This mineral is quite active. According to the characteristics, it can be placed between C3S and C2S.

Therefore, you can eliminate unpleasant scenarios and forecast whether the supplier will be able to deliver high-quality material and whether he will have enough time for this if you know the composition of clinker.

Transportation time

A laboratory analysis of the cargo’s composition determines how long a special transport has to deliver it. The travel time can be anywhere from fifty minutes to one and a half hours, depending on the outside temperature. When frost-resistant additives are added, concrete can be transported in the winter in as little as two to three hours. Vehicles that "non-mix" are covered by this. If we are discussing a functional mixer, the transit time is three to four hours at an air temperature of less than ten degrees Celsius.

In summer, concrete sets much faster. Therefore, it is important to maintain the temperature and mobility of the mixture. Accordingly, in hot weather, delivery is recommended only using vehicles equipped with a mixer. If transport is used in which the mixture is not mixed, then at +25°C the delivery time should not be more than 30-60 minutes. If it is hotter outside (up to +30°C), then the transportation time is reduced to 15-25 minutes. If the vehicle is delayed, then there is a risk of losing up to 25% of the mix"s mobility. For long distances, it makes sense to transport the cargo in mixers or deliver a dry mix or partially prepared.

It is strictly forbidden to use concrete that has stratified or started to harden for laying purposes. The issue is that it is exceedingly challenging to observe the shift in the mix’s properties with the unaided eye. For this reason, it’s critical that the concrete supplier transports building mixes in accordance with the GOST regulations.

GOST

Deliveries of such goods are subject to strict compliance.

GOST 7473-2025

Norm for mixtures of concrete. In the chapter "Transportation," it enumerates the primary technical requirements for the transportation of mixes. According to the same document, delivery may be made by body transport, or general-purpose dump trucks, but only in the case of dry mixtures. According to the GOST, the supplier or the business that supplied the vehicles for transportation should be held accountable if the material’s qualities deteriorate during transit.

Additionally, the manufacturer must concur with the customer:

  • the date and exact time of delivery;
  • the frequency of delivery of the mixer, if several vehicles are planned to be ordered at once;
  • the territorial features of the site (are there access roads to the construction site and other nuances);
  • possible restrictions on the weight or size of vehicles transporting mixtures.

Crucial! It is not within the supplier’s authority to supplement the mixture while it is being transported. For instance, some dishonest vendors attempt to dilute concrete that has been thickened with water.

GOST 27339-2025

Trucks used for mixing concrete are the focus of this GOST. It has all the information you could possibly need about concrete mixers. Let us examine the salient details:

  • This GOST applies only to mixers transporting batches with a cone slump exceeding 3 cm. The slump of the cone characterizes how easy the mixture is to place and how plastic it is. The plasticity of the composition (P1-P5) is determined depending on the slump of the cone. Only P1 mixtures (with a slump of more than 3 cm) are allowed to be transported on concrete mixers.

  • The size of the aggregate in the mixture should not be more than 70 mm. If the grain size is larger, it may complicate the process of unloading the mix (jams will be created).
  • The mixer must be equipped with a chute through which the mixture can be fed to different heights. It must also move in a horizontal plane (some models rotate at a certain angle).
  • The transport must be equipped with an emergency system for unloading the material. This is necessary if for some reason standard unloading is impossible.
  • The mixer must have a heat-insulating shell. This will allow the mixture to be transported at temperatures from +40 ℃ to -40 ℃.

There are several ways to transport goods these days. Taking dump trucks into consideration would be pointless because they break far too many regulations. Consequently, there are fewer options.

Rule Method
Maintain Consistency Use drum mixers
Avoid Delays Plan routes carefully
Prevent Contamination Use clean trucks
Ensure Workability Agitate during transport
Protect from Weather Cover with tarps

For construction projects to succeed and for ready-mixed concrete to remain of high quality, efficient and effective transportation is essential. It is possible to avoid premature setting, segregation, and loss of workability by adhering to established guidelines and procedures.

Selecting the appropriate mode of transportation is one important factor. Every option, including mixer trucks, dump trucks, and even specialty concrete pumps, has benefits and ideal applications. Due to their ability to continuously agitate the mix and maintain its uniformity and workability, mixer trucks are frequently utilized. Conversely, large construction sites can greatly benefit from the use of concrete pumps to transport concrete to areas that are difficult to reach.

The amount of time that needs to pass between the delivery and pouring of the concrete is another crucial consideration. For best results, ready-mixed concrete should normally be used ninety minutes after batching in order to avoid setting. This calls for meticulous planning and coordination, particularly for projects that are far from the batching plant or call for large volumes of concrete.

Controlling the temperature while in transit is also essential. To prevent problems like freezing or rapid setting, concrete should be maintained within a certain temperature range. Some good temperature control techniques are to schedule pours for later in the day, add ice to the mixture, or use insulated trucks.

Following these recommendations improves construction projects’ overall effectiveness and success while also protecting the quality of the ready-mixed concrete. When concrete is transported properly, it gets to the construction site in optimal condition, ready to be poured and formed into strong, long-lasting structures.

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Marina Petrova

Candidate of Technical Sciences and teacher of the Faculty of Construction. In my articles, I talk about the latest scientific discoveries and innovations in the field of cement and concrete technologies.

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