Concrete Mix Overview

Introdcution:
GGHV utilizes FAST-TRACK concrete (i.e., compressive strengths greater than 40 MPA) in order to safely fast track its concreting operations on mass housing projects. We perform our own concrete batching using job site set up batching plants. The convenience of using this fast track mix design is earlier form stripping times 24 to 72 hours.

Formwork Early Stripping Precautions:

a. b. c. d. Because formwork and labor are major cost items, GGHV saves time by stripping forms early which results in noticeable difference in overall construction time and cost as follows: Remove beam sides, walls and columns after 12 to 24 hours of normal curing. Remove beams soffits, cantilevers and slabs within 24 to 48 hours. Care should be exerted not remove until after these structural members are strong enough to support their own weight plus any superimposed loads. General rule is to strip forms after the concrete has reached two-thirds to three-fourths of the specified design strength. Pay close attention to following damage due to early stripping and adjust curing methods or de-moulding time accordingly: i) ii) f. g. Concrete corners and edges damage. Excessive long term creep deflections under load.

e.

Always measure concrete strength for form removal purposes using the compressive strength tests of field-cured cylinders. Engineering practices generally allow form stripping of horizontal members to occur after 3 or 4 days and after 75% of the specified strength is reached. WE schedule concrete placement on days of week that take most advantage of overlapping with Fridays & holidays.

FAST TRACK HIGH-EARLY-STRENGTH CONCRETE MIX

GGHV utilizes High-early-strength concrete to fast track field production of mass housing projects. We aim to achieve specified strengths at an earlier age than conventional concrete mixes. We target achieving desired concrete strength 24 to 72 hours after casting. We batch High-early strength concrete on the job site using mobile batching plants. Mixes consist of traditional concrete ingredients, standard concreting practices combined with special materials and batching techniques. We obtain fast track concrete by using one or a combination of the following materials based on desired age at which the specified strength must be achieved and on job conditions as follows: 1. Type III or HE high-early-strength cement 2. High cement content (400 to 600 kg/m3 or 675 to 1000 lb/yd3) 3. Low water-cementing materials ratio (0.20 to 0.45 by mass) 4. Higher freshly mixed concrete temperature 5. Higher curing temperature 6. Chemical admixtures 7. Silica fume (or other supplementary cementing materials) 8. Steam curing 9. Blanket/tarp insulation to retain heat of hydration 10. Special rapid hardening cements

Mix criteria:
When designing early-strength mixtures, we pay close attention to the following: 1. Desired strength development 2. Desired durability. 3. Early stiffening.

4. 5. 6.

Shrinkage (Both autogenously & drying) Temperature rise. We use custom tailored curing procedures to control plastic shrinkage cracking.

Use of Super Plasticizers:

GGHV prefers to use high workability concretes to achieve the required compaction to avoid needing heavy vibration which leads to segregation and honeycombing. Super plasticizing admixtures are carefully incorporated after exhaustively testing mix trials in labs to produce workable and flowable mixtures that still achieve short term mold stripping strength as well as long term design compressive strengths.

Conclusion:
GGHV aims to utilize the most innovative concrete mix designs while keeping in mind the economic advantages of using locally available materials.