Table of Contents
What is a vibrator in construction?
Concrete vibrators are used to eliminate air pockets that can remain when pouring concrete that can ruin the integrity of concrete. Without a concrete vibrator, concrete structures can cave in or break apart from weather, earthquakes, and wear and tear over time.
Why do we use concrete vibrator?
As wet concrete is poured, air bubbles become trapped within the mixture creating cavities or honeycomb-like spaces. Left untouched, “honeycombing” can compromise the cement’s longevity and strength. Vibrators force the trapped air out of the mixture leaving the final product a more compact and level slab.
How does a concrete vibrator work?
Vibrators work by allowing air to float up and out of the concrete, so the tip should not be withdrawn faster than the air can move upward, about 3 inches per second. If the wall is poured in multiple lifts, the vibrator tip should go deep enough to penetrate 3 to 6 inches in the previous layer.
How do you use a vibrator on a concrete slab?
Submerge the vibrator head fully into the concrete, and hold it there for at least 10 seconds. Don’t turn on the vibrator until the tip is fully submerged. Pull up the vibrator at an average rate of no more than 3 inches per second; often, 1 inch per second yields the best results.
Should all concrete be vibrated?
Yes, all concrete should be consolidated. Contractors tend to use mechanical vibrators such as spud vibrators, vibratory screeds, and form vibrators. Contractors tend to use spud vibrators for formed structures such as foundation walls, footings, elevated slabs, etc.
What is vibrated concrete?
Definition of vibrated concrete : concrete that has been vibrated either internally or externally after it has been placed in order to produce a denser mass.
How far apart should concrete be when vibrating?
Space the vibrators about 6 feet apart for best results. Be sure the formwork can vibrate freely: The concrete formwork will need to vibrate sufficiently.
What happens if concrete not vibrated?
Concrete which has not been vibrated is full of small air pockets (sometimes known as honeycombing) which results in a poor finish and weak structure.
How long can you vibrate concrete?
Basically, some of the larger entrained air bubbles are lost with the entrapped air bubbles and the freeze/thaw resistance of the concrete is not significantly affected. Therefore, workers should vibrate between 5 and 15 seconds to ensure the second phase of consolidation or de-aeration is achieved.
Is it good to vibrate concrete?
Why is it Important? Vibrating concrete is critical because by removing air pockets & packing the aggregate particles together, it increases the density and strength of the concrete. Tightly packed particles will result in a stronger, more durable concrete structure.
Should you always vibrate concrete?
Vibrating your concrete is almost always recommended since your vibrated concrete will be stronger. But depending on the project, you may have no choice but to vibrate your concrete, as it may be a building code requirement.
Can you vibrate concrete too much?
Can You “Over-Vibrate” Concrete? Vibrating concrete too much has shown to do very little damage, while under-vibrating concrete can leave large pockets of air trapped within it or change the appearance of the concrete. Because of this, it’s important that each section of concrete is vibrated for around 15 seconds.
What happens when concrete is not vibrated?
Poor vibrations will result in voids at the surface of the concrete – normally called honeycombing. This is caused because the entrapped air was not removed, the concrete did not settle, and the voids were not filled with the paste from the concrete mixture.
Can you use a drill to vibrate concrete?
I just drilled 3/4 way into a piece of 2 by 4 wood with a smaller diameter wood bit, then drilled the hammer bit into it for a really tight fit. Next screw on a flat piece of wood to fit the concrete you are vibrating. It can be wide or long or whatever.
Should concrete slabs be vibrated?
How often do you vibrate concrete?
Therefore, workers should vibrate between 5 and 15 seconds to ensure the second phase of consolidation or de-aeration is achieved. Doing so will reduce the amount and size of surface voids including bug holes and in general, improve the overall quality and appearance of the concrete.
What is a concrete vibrator and how does it work?
A concrete vibrator is used to ensure that the concrete becomes compact while putting concrete i.e. the concrete is placed without the inclusion of air bubbles which can affect its strength and it is necessary in most cases because the fluidity of concrete is limited by the amount of water used in the mixture.
What is the difference between hand compaction and concrete vibrator?
Even though there are hand compaction techniques available, they are comparatively less effective when used for insignificant tasks. In a concrete vibrator, a concrete of sufficient workability and a low water-cement ratio is expected, while compaction of concrete can also be done for stiff concrete.
What are the best concrete vibrator alternatives?
Rebar shaker is another great Concrete Vibrator alternative to various traditional concrete vibrators. The technology is similar to a standard concrete vibrator, but in this case, the Rebar shaker is slipped over the reinforcement bar and “shakes” or transmits vibration to the concrete.
What is the working principle of needle vibrator?
Working principle of Needle Vibrator : With enhanced compaction capacity, VNP professional line eliminates air bubbles in the concrete strictly according to the latest concrete technology. The VNP line is also provided with 42 V/200 Hz and 5 different needle diameters that make it suitable for all types of construction and floor manufacturing work.