SC concrete pumping at high rise.
rame 12-16-2010
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SC Concrete is common in USA.  But in india it is started now.  We face problem while pumping at 160mtr vertical as well in down ward 16mtr.  Concrete choking problem.  We are using BP 2800 pump for pumping.  Can you suggest, how to lay the pipeline or reason for choking?
52putz 12-16-2010
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Can you explain "SC concrete?"
Vasa 12-16-2010
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I think he means SelfCompactingConcrete.... SCC !
52putz 12-17-2010
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Never heard of it but I'll take a guess;

the mud does not want to pump after you stop, right?

my guess, the mud settles in the lower 90 when you stop pumping and separates?

Just a guess based on the name SCC.
Dipstick 12-17-2010
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If it's the SelfCompactingConcrete it can be a very difficult problem. It tends to sepparate. I was on a big project on a huge damm where they used the stuff. First time we just got blockage all the time. It was SCC with 1'' rock. Impossible to pump through 3'' line. Is it big rock at your job too? That might be the problem.

We mannaged at the end with slightly smaler rock and always make sure the line is going upwards. As soon as it goes 'down hill' you can't go up again. When you stop, the rock will emidiately settle in the kink where the line goes from down hill to up hill again. We also used some bags of glassfiber in each truck to 'bind' the concrete. (to avoid seperation) and tried to keep the flow going. Stop as little as possible. As we stoped always take some strikes backwards just before you start up again.

Get the factory to send it as 'stiff' as they possibly can mannage without loosing the quality.

But we never got it to go super smooth. We got them to make a road to make sure we could poor the worst areas direct from the boom.
Dipstick 12-17-2010
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It will also seperate in the reducers when the line is going down hill. The liquids runn away while the rock stays laying in the reducer and maybe also in the rest of the line. make sure the line can't drain when you stop.

But the biggest problem is when it's to thin. If it's like water you never get it right. 

GOOD LUCK
tsss 12-22-2010
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As the mix related problem is area specific, this is based on my past 10 years exposure. So can you specify which part of india and also the grade?