Don't Complicate Vibration

Since the vibration field studies began in both concrete pavements and commercial/vertical concrete placements, the relationship between mechanical vibration and the level of concrete workability remains the same. That is—the more workable the concrete the less vibration frequency you need to apply.

The job of vibrator frequency is to excite the water in the concrete paste to reduce the particle friction so that the vibrator’s g-forces can consolidate the concrete. When we apply too much frequency in the concrete a forced bleed amount is directed to the concrete surface causing surface blemishes and increased surface permeability.

Setting a vibrator speed at pre-construction trials with a controlled frequency vibrator (CFV) removes the vibrator variability from the equation. That allows the vibrator operator to focus on what placement process is producing the variability of the concrete—and begin to control it.?