Page 16 - Demo

NEWS16 CPI %u2013 Concrete Plant International %u2013 3 | 2025 www.cpi-worldwide.comductivity, making them suitable for new applications in construction.Specific topics, all of which are relevant for the concrete producing and precast concrete industries, address fresh and hardened concrete properties, investigating how CNMs interact with cementitious matrices, particularly their dispersion, rheology, and the interface between CNMs and binders. In terms of hardened concrete, the TC investigates how CNMs affect mechanical performance, transport properties, and durability over time. Lastly, a special working group is dedicated to smart properties, such as incorporating self-sensing capabilities and electrical conductivity into cementitious materials.The anticipated outcome of these efforts is to develop practical recommendations for the use of CNMs in cementitious materials, helping to drive more sustainable and high-performance construction practices. Pumping of concreteThe main goal of RILEM TC 305-PCC is to create a State-ofthe-Art report on concrete pumping, reflecting advancements made over the past 20 years. Existing international guidelines are outdated and need updating to incorporate modern concrete mixtures. Key topics to be covered include the behavior of concrete in pipes, lubrication layer properties, mechanisms of blocking, the role of thixotropy, and preparation of pumping pipes. Additionally, the committee will address test methods for lubrication layers, monitoring equipment, full-scale pumping tests, pumping prediction models, and methodologies for reducing pumping pressure.The committee%u2019s primary deliverable will be the State-of-theArt report, followed by recommendations and best practices for the industry, especially focused on revising pressure prediction models and reducing pumping pressure. The report will provide essential updates on concrete pumping based on the latest research, ensuring that the construction industry can maintain its competitive advantage with the development of specialty, flowable, and high-performance concrete. This updated knowledge is crucial for improving the efficiency and performance of concrete pumping systems.Active control of properties of fresh and hardening cementitious materialsActive Control of Concrete Properties is a new subfield in concrete technology that aims to modify concrete properties after mixing or during casting by applying external signals. While some existing practices, like mechanical vibration and steam curing, can be seen as forms of active control, more advanced methods inspired by fields like hydrogels and functional polymers are being explored. One approach involves active rheology control, utilizing magneto-responsive particles or triggerable polymers. However, challenges include material stability in cementitious environments, the applicability of control signals, and cost and safety concerns on construction sites. The goal of TC 317-ACP is to create a comprehensive report on active control methods for cementitious materials, covering properties in both the fresh and hardening states. This report will provide valuable insights for the concrete industry by describing innovative technologies for controlling concrete properties.RILEM TC 305-PCC is tasked with compiling a State-of-theArt report on concrete pumping. Here: concrete pumping on a small construction site (image courtesy of G. De Schutter).Largescale concrete pump test on a major construction site (image courtesy of G. De Schutter).