Wasserman, B (2012) Wash water in the mix: Effects on the compressive strength of concrete. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 8(4), pp. 301-316. ISSN 1557-8771
Abstract
The disposal of concrete wash water has become a significant issue in recent years. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency currently requires control of all water used to wash concrete ready mix trucks, delivery chutes and tools used to finish concrete. Best Management Practices allow for containment of wash water either on the job site or at the ready mix plant but do not allow for the reuse of the water. ASTM Standards allow for limited reuse of the wash water, but the Minnesota Department of Transportation requires potable water in all concrete mixes used on their jobs. This research was designed to compare the compressive strength of the concrete when made with tap water to the compressive strength of concrete made with wash water. The research was a two by two design with two concrete mixes each paired with tap water and wash water. Fifteen cylinders of each type were mixed and stored for 28 days. They were then tested for compressive strength. When analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the cylinders made with wash water tested at a higher mean compressive strength than the cylinders made with tap water. The results were consistent across concrete mix designs.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | compressive strength; concrete; concrete cylinders; recycle; strength; wash water |
| Index terms: | agency, mix design, pollution, management practice, variance, compressive strength, recycle |
| Subjects: | concrete and cementitious materials, management, waste management, environmental health, sociology, material analysis and testing, measurement and scaling |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Sustainability, Research Practice, Construction Materials |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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