LEARNING ELEMENT OBJECTIVES

Fig 9
The consolidation/compaction of concrete is necessary to improve the density, imperviousness and strength of the finished product
as well as to improve the adhesion of the reinforcing bars to the concrete. The consolidation can be done by hand with hand-
tampers or iron rods. A better method is to use the poker vibrator (figure 10). This is a steel tube, housing a rotating excentric mass
driven by compressed air or a petrol engine.

Fig 10
The vibrator is immersed into the concrete (not further than 2/3 of its length) at distances of ca. 50 cm. When the water wells up to
the surface it is slowly taken out. Do not vibrate longer than 15 seconds in one place and do not place the vibrator closer than 10
cm to the formwork. Too long vibration can cause the particles to segregate!
Curing of concrete
Curing of concrete is necessary to prevent surface evaporation of water during the setting and hardening stage. Curing means
preventing evaporation by keeping the exposed surface of the concrete moist for a period of at least seven days.
This can be done by either:
(1) sprinkling or flooding the surface frequently;
(2) covering the surface with wet jute, paper bags, sand, sawdust, banana or palm leaves or similar materials.
Proper curing will ensure that cracks in the surface layers, caused by an insufficient binding due to the non-availability of water, will
not occur. Freshly poured concrete should never be exposed to intensive sunlight