Concrete

Why these 3 pieces of concrete equipment are so important to the concrete industry

Concrete batch plants mix the materials that are turned into concrete. Mobile concrete batch plants enable the concrete to be mixed at a construction site. The use of mobile batch plants reduces costs for setup and trucking. Portable plants, an even smaller kind of mobile batch plant, can be assembled in a matter of hours. "Having the ability to break down the plant and quickly move to another location has significant benefits, particularly when dealing with larger or longer jobs. Mobile batch plants can cut the haul distance, which saves money, wear and tear, and means fewer trucks to further disrupt an already congested stretch of roadway (Paving the way with better batch plants," 2003, Concrete Construction). Cement mixers are usually built in the traditional 'revolving drum' style, when less concrete is at the construction site.

Why reinforcing concrete is so important

Concrete is always subject to the wear and tear of the environment. Thus reinforcing the concrete with rods, usually of some noncorrosive material such as steel, is essential. Chemical treatment of the concrete as well of the reinforcing surfaces can minimize risk still further ("Active steel repassivator for corroded steel in chloride contaminated reinforced concrete, 2004, Patent Storm).

Why precast and pre-stressed concrete is so important to the concrete industry

Precast and pre-stressed concrete have many unique advantages. These materials are highly durable. They reduce the necessity of generating more materials and reduce environmental waste. These materials reduce risks to a building's users by minimizing occupant exposure to exterior environmental hazards like noise and wind and interior hazards like dust. Their structural elements lend themselves to 'green' construction. These materials are more resistant to fire and the elements, and minimize the costs to a building's owners in terms of maintaining the structure in terms and daily energy usage ("Four core initiatives," PCI, 2007)

Works Cited

Active steel repassivator for corroded steel in chloride contaminated reinforced concrete." (25 May 2004). Patent Storm. Retrieved 21 Dec 2007 at http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6740150-description.html

Four core initiatives." (2007). PCI Foundation. Retrieved 21 Dec 2007 at http://www.pci.org/foundation/coreInitiatives.cfm

Paving the way with better batch plants." (Dec 2003).

Concrete Construction. Retrieved 21 Dec 2007 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NSX/is_12_48/ai_112168042