Concrete maturity is usually used as a tool to determine early-age concrete strength. However, the same information can be used for many other applications. One example is lowering material cost!
Early-age strength information from intelliRock (concrete maturity sensors) accelerates construction schedules because contractors can get real-time concrete strength readings with the press of a button. Armed with this information contractors know exactly when forms can be stripped, structures can be loaded, and when they can proceed with other construction activities. But what happens when the concrete strengths reach targets earlier than necessary? Opportunities arise!
Rapid strength gain usually means high cement content. In situations where strength gain is faster than necessary, there are opportunities to use ‘leaner’ mix designs. These leaner mix designs contain less cement which translates to:
- Lower material cost
- Less paste (better durability, less shrinkage, etc)
- Less carbon dioxide production
- Opportunity to use recycled materials (fly ash/slag)
- Lower in-place temperatures (less thermal cracking, DEF risk)
With calibration curves in-hand for alternate mix designs, contractors can identify alternate, lower-cost mix designs that are can still keep the job on schedule. (see related post below)
Note that to reduce material costs, contractors should start the job with several approved alternate mix designs, and favorable pricing on these mix designs prenegotiated with the concrete supplier. It is very common for contractors to contractually protect themselves from price increases during the job by locking in the price of the concrete. But, that often means that the cost per cubic yard is the same, even if they switch to a leaner mix. Contractors should not only manage price risk during the bidding process, but they should also ensure that if lower cost concrete can be used on the job they will share in the cost savings.
Armed with intelliRock, maturity curves, alternate approved mix designs, and strategic concrete pricing could mean big savings on material with no slip in schedule. What would saving several dollars on every CY of concrete mean to YOUR bottom line? Grab a calculator and give your intelliRock rep a call!
Related Post: A little maturity math, a lot of insight!