Concrete Companies Research Articles

Feasibility of utilizing recycled coarse aggregates in commercial concrete production

This study addresses a critical gap in circular construction practices by assessing the use of high-quality Recycled Coarse Aggregates (RCA) from end-of-life concrete on an industrial scale. Unlike previous studies, which predominantly relied on theoretical mix designs or laboratory-level experiments, this research focuses on real-world applicability, employing commercially produced RCA and conventional production methods in industrial settings to identify upscaling challenges. Advanced Dry Recovery technology is utilized to produce high-quality RCA for both ready-mix and prefab concrete production. To ensure practical relevance, the research examines three water-to-cement ratios for ready-mix concrete and three strength classes for prefab concrete, all prepared and cast in a commercial setting using standard industrial practices. The results show that by selecting the appropriate application for RCA, there is potential for concrete companies to produce mixes using 100% RCA that meet standard requirements in terms of fresh, mechanical, and durability properties without the need for extra treatments or specific mixing methods, particularly when the water absorption of RCA is less than 4%. Achieving optimal performance requires adjustments in the mix design, specifically by considering the effective water-to-cement ratio. Additionally, the study underscores the impact of the parent concrete's properties on the RCA quality. This research not only demonstrates the feasibility of employing RCA in industrial-scale concrete production along with its associated challenges but also highlights the potential for enhancing circularity in the construction industry through large-scale adoption of RCA, thereby contributing to sustainable and circular construction practices.

Concrete cracks, wood burns: Competing narratives in the construction sector

Innate to the human condition are rules of thumb, or heuristics, important for our survival. It is widely understood that wood is combustible, and concrete is prone to cracking. These factors significantly drive our perceptions concerning the selection of materials used in construction. The present study aimed to better understand the competing narratives employed by supporters on both sides of this construction ‘material warfare’ and specifically investigate their advantage and disadvantage arguments. To meet our research objective, we looked at news media articles through Google search tool using keywords ‘wood vs concrete building construction’. The articles are published as early as 2006, and along the years, the competing conversations are more prominent with the ‘birth’ of mass timber in North America. The topic is also becoming an interest for specific audiences, such as architects, engineers, and insurance companies. Through inductive thematic analysis of 100 articles, we find that cost and sustainability are two dominant factors in the narratives. Each industry claims to be more cost effective and sustainable than the other, typically sniping at each other. This rhetoric, we argue, will not be beneficial for society and environmental justice. A sustainable built environment requires cross-sector collaboration between wood and concrete companies to handle difficulties that they cannot address successfully within their own sector.

Pendekatan Min-Max Dalam Strategi Perencanaan Bahan Baku Plant Bm Gresik Guna Meminimalisir Biaya Persediaan Bahan Baku

PT Varia Usaha Beton is a reliable and reliable concrete company. Every day, PT. Varia Usaha Beton always gets orders for various paving products from various cities according to the products available at PT. Varia Usaha Concrete Plant BM Gresik. PT. Varia Usaha Beton Plant BM Gresik uses 5 main raw materials for paving production, namely fly ash, 5-10 stone, 0/5 stone, cement and Lumajang sand. Raw material planning at PT. The BM Gresik Concrete Plant Business Varia often goes out of control, resulting in shortages (stock out) or excess raw materials (overstock). Uncontrolled raw materials sector results in high inventory costs. The aim of this research is to plan raw material requirements and minimize costs using the min-max method by determining the optimal order quantity, minimum and maximum stock that must be met, reorder pont, safety stock, and total inventory cost. With this research using the min-max method, results were obtained that minimized inventory costs. For fly ash raw materials, total inventory cost efficiency results were obtained at 3%, for 5-10 stone raw materials, total inventory cost efficiency results were obtained at 63%, for 0/5 raw materials, total inventory cost efficiency results were 6%. For cement, total inventory cost efficiency results were obtained at 15%, and for Lumajang sand raw materials, total inventory cost efficiency results were obtained at 20%.

High Performance and Ultra-High Performace Fibre Reinforced Concrete with Stabilized Homogeneity

This paper describes the segregation of fibres in high performance and high strength concretes. It focuses on both laboratory and practical conditions. It compares different mixtures produced and processed in the laboratory and in the precast concrete company. Two methods are chosen in the paper to avoid fibre segregation. The first method is a suitable mix design considering the water/cement ratio and the amount of superplasticizer. The second method is the addition of synthetic fibres to the mixture while maintaining sufficient workability. The paper examines the consistence of each mixture according to the concrete placement location, segregation of fibres in the fresh mixture and hardened composite. Both methods under laboratory and practical conditions have shown a positive impact on the reduction of segregation of steel fibres in the mixture. Simultaneously, the strength properties of all mixtures were compared, which depended mainly on the type of synthetic fibres used.

Integrating ISO 56002:2019 Organizational Context Evaluation with Lean Six Sigma for Cultivating an Innovation Culture in Precast Concrete Companies in Indonesia

Based on Global Innovation Index data, Indonesia’s innovation ranking has declined by 2 positions, from 85th in 2019 and 2020 to 87th out of 132 countries in 2021. This places, Indonesia among the lowest in ASEAN-6. This article examines the integration of ISO 56002:2019 Organizational Context Evaluation with Lean Six Sigma which was carried out in the form of quantitative research by analyzing through Structural Equation Model (SEM). This study aims to determine whether the integration between ISO 56002:2019 and Lean Six Sigma is related to Innovation Culture and could cultivate the Innovation Culture of precast concrete companies in Indonesia. The result of this study provides evidence that ISO 56002:2019 and Lean Six Sigma are positively related to Innovation Culture.

SEM-PLS Model of Resource Based ISO 56002:2019 Integrated Lean Six Sigma for Cultivating Culture of Innovation (Cased in Precast Concrete Company in Indonesia)

This study explores the integration of ISO 56002:2019 - based on Innovation Management Systems and Lean Six Sigma in the resource context of the precast concrete industry. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and Innovation are powerful methodologies that exhibit several differences, there are numerous areas where LSS and Innovation share compatible foundations and common goals in the pursuit of improving implementation of Innovation Management System on these companies. In this study, the researchers conducted a literature review to identify the research variables, which were then validated by 5 experts. The researchers collected data through questionnaires from 54 respondents who work in a precast concrete company in Indonesia. SEM-PLS methods were used for analysis. Results indicate Lean Six Sigma’s substantial positive influence on resource of precast concrete company in the Innovation Management System, offering valuable insights for Indonesia’s precast concrete industry. This study contributes to continuous improvement in innovation culture, fostering competitiveness in the global market.

Compressive strength prediction of ternary-blended concrete using deep neural network with tuned hyperparameters

Studies have been conducted to predict the compressive strength of ternary-blended concrete using regression models, such as support vector regression (SVR), random forest (RF), and artificial neural networks. In particular, deep neural networks (DNNs) are one of the most effective nonlinear regression models for predicting compressive strength based on the intricate relationships among constituent materials. However, because the DNN depends on training data, previous studies presented different varieties of ternary-blended concrete, suggesting that appropriate training is required. In addition, the analysis of optimal hyperparameter processes to ensure model performance has not been conducted extensively. This study established appropriate DNN models tuned with hyperparameters to effectively predict the compressive strength of ternary-blended concrete. The dataset used in this study was a set of 775 on-site mix proportions of ternary-blended concrete provided by a ready-mix concrete company in South Korea. Water, cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, fly ash, blast furnace slag, curing temperature, and curing humidity were the inputs, and the compressive strength was set as the output. The basic statistical characteristics of the data used and the performance evaluation (mean square error [MSE] and mean absolute error [MAE]) of 15 models with hidden layers and units as variables were analyzed to determine the network architecture. Based on the model with the selected structure, hyperparameter tuning (batch size, dropout, and batch normalization) was applied to improve the performance of the DNN model. The advanced DNN model exhibited 18% lower MAE losses and 27% lower MSE losses than the conventional DNN model. In addition, based on the MAE losses and MSE losses, the advanced DNN model showed 4% and 12% lower errors than those of SVR, and 11% and 15% lower errors than those of RF, indicating that the DNN model with hyperparameter tuning performed better than the other models.

Reinforcing civil infrastructure with waste glass-enhanced concrete: A comprehensive review of properties, performance and applications

Millions of tons of waste are produced globally each year, the bulk of which cannot be recycled. Furthermore, recycling waste also consumes energy and harms the environment. Additionally, suburban garbage disposal and accumulation pose a serious threat to the environment. Using waste products during the production of concrete allows for the removal of waste as well as the addition of advantageous properties to concrete. Due to their substantial amounts of released greenhouse gases, substantial consumption of energy, and heavy use of the environment's resources, the cement and glass sectors face a variety of challenges. Because waste glass is non-biodegradable, the current practise of discarding of it in landfills fails to provide an environmentally suitable disposal for the waste glass. Waste glass's chemical composition and pozzolanic properties promote its use in the mortar and concrete companies as an ecologically acceptable choice for the glass and concrete sectors. This study examines various findings brought to light by several research groups and offers fresh viewpoints based on an examination of underlying mechanisms and various glass trash types. The fresh characteristics, durability, compressive strength, electrical, thermal and microstructure of concrete are among the contents that have been evaluated. This review is projected to increase information of consuming recycled glass in concrete production, recognize areas in need of further study, and examine how glass qualities affect the durability and performance of concrete and cement products.

Multiscale analysis, mechanical properties and strength of hydrophobic paper sludge

In order to combat the damaging environmental effects of cement production and the depletion of natural resources, a sustainable concrete company must develop alternative binders. This study investigates the use of hydrophobic paper sludge ash as a partial cement substitute in new concrete. The primary chemical components of the hydrophobic paper sludge ash were determined using energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and Fourier transforms infrared. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry are used to analyse the hydration and pozzolanic reaction in concrete in relation to the amount of hydrophobic paper sludge ash substituted for cement. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to examine the microstructures of concrete mixtures. There is also discussion of how the properties of hydrophobic paper sludge ash concrete affect its usability, mechanical strength, sorptivity, and water absorption.

Pengaruh Lama Masa Kerja terhadap Kesehatan Paru Pekerja Perusahaan Beton

Introduction: There are currently 7.06 million Indonesians employed in the construction industry, including precast concrete companies. Workers at this industrial location were constantly exposed to production dust, which could be harmful to their health. The emergence of lung disorders is one of these health issues. Objective: This research aimed to see how the length of service affected the lung health of workers in precast concrete plants. Method: An analytic-observational study with a cross-sectional approach is used in this research method. The information was gathered from 160 employees at an Indonesian precast concrete company. All information was collected by filling out questionnaires and performing a spirometry test to see if there were any lung health issues. Results and discussion: According to the findings, respondents ranged in age from 19 to 58 years old. All respondents were divided into two groups based on their years of service: those with less than ten years of service (97.9%) and those with more than ten years (39.7%). As many as 57 workers aged over ten years had normal FEV1.0/FVC results. Conclusion: There is no significant relationship between the length of service and the lung health of concrete workers (p-value = 0.648). A thorough analysis is needed to determine other factors related to the lung health of construction workers, according to the researchers' recommendations for further research.

Real-Time Low-Carbon Prediction in Ready-Mixed Concrete Production Process for Smart Manufacturing

The key to global warming is greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2015, the Republic of Korea has implemented a carbon emission rights system to encourage companies to voluntarily reduce carbon emissions. Not long ago, the government declared carbon neutrality by 2050. However, in order for the carbon emission rights system to function as a greenhouse gas reduction, it takes half a year to calculate carbon emissions, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are not only large in resources and manpower for calculation should be left to consulting companies. It costs millions to tens of millions of won to calculate once. This paper provides a carbon emission response solution for ready-mixed concrete (Remicon) companies. Greenhouse gases emitted from various factories are calculated in real time using IoT equipment. The calculated greenhouse gas emissions are visualized and shown. Therefore, companies can plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on data and make predictions about when to certify low carbon certification. This project targeted one of the building material industrial groups. In the future, it can be expanded to the entire region-based society, including individuals and families, which are the minimum units. This allows the government to check national-based carbon emissions in real time and determine policies based on data. Finally, it is intended to change people\’s consciousness by visualizing the degree of contribution to the phenomenon of jig warming through real-time carbon emissions.

A Framework for design Lean Supply Chain: A Case Study in a Peruvian Concrete Company

A Framework for design Lean Supply Chain: A Case Study in a Peruvian Concrete Company

A framework for design lean supply chain: a case study in a Peruvian concrete company

A framework for design lean supply chain: a case study in a Peruvian concrete company

Environmental assessment in concrete industries

Concrete is a material used in civil construction applied to several works, which makes it one of the most consumed products in the world. Concrete companies generate environmental negative impacts, which need to be studied to assess their extension and find ways to mitigate them. In this work, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used to measure the impact of concrete production. Primary data (amount of cement, gravel, sand, energy, water, additives) were collected in three concrete industries located in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, and data from the Ecoinvent 3.7.1 database (transport, solid waste, liquid effluents, particulate matter) were also used. For the analysis, two methods of Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) were used, CML (baseline) and ReCiPe Midpoint (H) to compare the concrete performance, given these different methodologies, especially regarding the coverage (regional/global) of their impact categories. The results of the categories selected for analysis were quite close for the two methods, except for human toxicity carcinogenic and freshwater ecotoxicity. This similarity indicates that both methods are appropriate for LCA studies in Brazil. Furthermore, the similarity with the values found in the literature shows consistency for LCA calculation, since an expressive amount of Brazilian primary data was used, generating reliable information to guide decision making. For the human toxicity, the findings become relevant for new studies to compare the potential impacts of this category on concrete production, since no surveys were found for this category with the same perspective of this research. The processes that most contributed to the impacts were the production of cement, activated silica, and the destination/treatment of waste. The sensitivity analysis has shown a potential impacts reduction for all CML categories specially on the abiotic depletion (mineral), reaching a 67% reduction. The suppliers’ choice becomes a strategy to reduce the impact on the ozone depletion and global warming categories since reducing the distances, the impact with gaseous emissions decreases. These considerations refer only to the dimensions of sustainable development.

Analysis and Reuse of the Fine Waste of a Residual Solid Treatment Plant of a Concrete Company to Prepare a Mortar with Hydraulic Cement

The purpose of the investigation is the use of a residual material through its recovery in a concrete mixer located in the town of Ixtaczoquitlan, Ver., Mexico, to make a recycled hydraulic mortar of f´c 70 kg/cm² for masonry works, providing sustainability to the concrete mixer and to determine its compressive strength compared to a normal mortar. The methodology consists of the recovery of a sample of fine waste of concrete from the treatment plant in CAGSA (Constructoras Asociadas del Golfo S. A. de C. V.), to dry it, classify it and then make mixtures with % fine waste-% mine sand (in a percentage ratio of 10%-90%, 20%-80%, 30%-70%, 40%-60%, 50% -50% and 60% -40%), as well as, water and cement, to later compare the results against a sample control and evaluate its compressive strengths. The results of compatibility with the other materials that make up the mortar are favorable and benefit its homogeneity and fluidity. The best compression strengths are mixtures at 10% -90%, and 20% -90%. In conclusion, this residue is compatible with the materials that make up the mortar and can be used to glue partitions and masonry plaster. Within the new and relevant aspects of the study is confirmation of the use of a new mortar from fine concrete waste, mixed with andesite-type mine sand, strengthening the sustainability of the environment. It was investigated that the analyzed residues contain 90% of Calcium, which is used in the manufacture of accelerating additives for concrete, based on calcium chloride. It can be a raw material to make additives that accelerate resistance. Follow-up research is recommended regarding the slump test, fluidity, compressive strength, consistency, and water retention of this type of mortar with fine recycled aggregate.

The Political Economy of Climate Change Litigation: Is There a Point to Suing Fossil Fuel Companies?

ABSTRACT This paper examines the social-theoretical assumptions and assesses the potential effectiveness of holding carbon-intensive corporations legally accountable for climate change harms. We argue that the structure of private corporations operating in a growth-dependent capitalist social formation is the problem, not concrete companies. Ignoring social structure has practical consequences. Assuming favourable court outcomes in the future – a questionable assumption considering remaining procedural obstacles and the status quo-preserving tendencies of law –, bringing claims against corporations for civil wrongs will remain ineffective as a mitigation strategy because many carbon-intensive corporations can absorb substantial lawsuit-related costs and, even if legal costs push fossil fuel companies out of business, their competitors will step in to extract open reserves. Changing the law, rather than pursuing individual offenders, will necessarily need to provide more systemic recourse to environmental degradation. We recommend a potentially more effective mitigation strategy for which lawyers concerned about climate change could lend knowledge, resources, and time: fossil fuel nationalisation.

A Heuristic Approach to Use Behavioral Models to Design for Change

PMD is a method to design for sustainable behavior change within organizations concerning the introduction of innovation. An earlier evaluation of PMD among users and a use case resulted in the need for refinements. In this paper, the authors describe the refined version of PMD and validate this in another case, in which a solution based on the interaction elements resulting from the PMD method was created for a company. Based on data acquired, they designed models of current and requested behavior. They selected the right interaction elements to facilitate the target audience in a change of behavior. After implementing the solution at the pre-fab concrete company, the authors observed a change in behavior among users, growing towards the behavior required to reach the set business objectives. The research allowed for the creation, evaluation, and validation of the PMD method itself in a real-life situation and showed that it is possible, at least in the use case in this research, to design for a required behavior change to increase adoption of innovations in organizations.

Evaluation of Optimal Substitute Ratio of Fly Ash Based on Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and Sensitivity Study

Fly ash is widely used for replacing partial cement and producing high-performance concrete. The concrete production company is interested in the optimal substitute ratio of fly ash. This study presents a general procedure for evaluating the optimal substitute ratio of fly ash. First, the compressive strength of fly ash blended concrete is evaluated based on adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The water-to-binder ratio, fly ash replacement ratio, and ages are used as input parameters of ANFIS. Strength is the output parameter of ANFIS. Second, sensitivity analysis is performed using ANFIS. The development of relative strength of fly ash blended concrete is calculated considering water-to-binder ratio, fly ash replacement ratio, and ages. The analysis results show that the optimal replacement fly ash is dependent on water-to-binder ratio of concrete. As thewater-to-binder ratio decreases from 0.5 to 0.3, the optimal substitute ratio of fly ash increases from 15% to 30%.

Construction Equipment Selection through Scenario-Based FDEA: Truck-Mixer Drums

This study aims to select the most suitable truck-mixer drum (TMD) for construction firms and to present a scenario-based approach to the construction equipment selection problem through the fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA). The technical data of TMDs for quantitative criteria were initially obtained from three TMD companies operating in Turkey. A semi-structured questionnaire survey was then applied to 90 users (i.e., ready-mixed concrete companies) of these TMD brands for qualitative criteria. A scenario analysis, including four different scenarios, was lastly carried out by using FDEA. Considering each scenario, the best alternative was identified for TMD buyers. This study may be beneficial for researchers who can investigate (i) the decision-making process in the domain of the construction equipment selection and (ii) selection criteria of TMDs. This study may also help both potential buyers to make proper equipment selection decisions and TMD manufacturers to improve their products and competitiveness. In terms of originality, the study is first to focus on the selection process and criteria of TMDs. Similarly, FDEA was utilized for the first time in a construction equipment selection problem. As a limitation, the number of respondents, criteria, and alternatives might be increased to reveal more robust solutions.

Optimization of Coagulation and Flocculation in Concrete Wastewater of Precast Industry

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The population increase until the end of 2019 reached 267 million. This is in line with developments that support activities. This is inseparable from the actions of one of the precast concrete companies PT.WB Precast Plant Karawang in supporting development that produces waste in the form of wastewater. The parameter measured as a reference in carrying out processing is the Minister of Health Regulation Number 32 of 2017. This study's method refers to turbidity as a physical parameter, namely 25NTU and hardness total as a chemical parameter, which is 500 mg / l. CaCO3. <strong>Objectives:</strong><strong> </strong>The purpose of this study was to determine the optimization of the use of PAC as a coagulant and flocculant to reduce the turbidity and total hardness and determine the optimum detention time of flocculation.<strong> </strong><strong>Method and results:</strong><strong> </strong>The sampling method in this study is observation. The population in this study is concrete wastewater with parameter values that are not in accordance with the standard.<strong> Conclusion:</strong> By using PAC 10% the optimum doses is 140 ppm, and the optimum detention time of flocculation is 5 minute that can reduce the turbidity from 275 NTU to be 11.615 NTU or 95.7% and can reduce total hardness from 948.75 mg/l CaCO3 to be 491.25 mg/l CaCO3 or 48.2%.</p>