Spectra QEST has partnered with Spectra Concrete Consulting Pty Ltd to provide concrete mix optimisation services to the concrete industry.

These services allow customers to realise the benefits of using QESTLab and QESTMix combined with world leading expertise in the use of these tools for concrete mix optimisation. This means that small to medium operations with limited technical and/or IT expertise are now able to benefit from tools that have traditionally been available to the larger concrete producers. The services also allow the larger concrete producers to push the boundaries of mix optimisation by utilising Spectra Concrete Consutling's expertise.

Spectra Concrete Consulting uses a scientific approach, which combines theoretical and empirical mix design & analytical methods. Mix design rules are extracted from the central QESTLab and QESTMix data using the tools supplied.

Mix design rules cover:
• Blending of coarse and fine aggregates;
• Water demand as a function of particular materials used; and
• Strength relationship to determine cement content based on scientific formulae or actual test data.

The specific mix design rules underlying each operation’s data are optimised under consideration of performance, cost, material availability, etc. Hereby sound scientific principles such as particle packing as well as the rheology of concrete are considered. Once optimised rules are formulated, all mixes that do not follow these optimised rules will be adjusted and re-tested. Changes in performance and cost will be noted and final adjustments are carried out.

After completion of the optimisation process Spectra QEST's tools allow customers to keep the mixes optimised, even if material parameters like grading, water demand, etc change.

Optimised mixes
• perform better in the wet state (better pump-ability, control of bleed, cohesiveness, finish-ability);
• perform better in the hardened state (more consistent and appropriate strength, denser and more durable concrete, less shrinkage and creep); and
• have lower cost than non-optimised concrete.

For more information, please contact us here.