Vacuum Dewatering During Concreting: Modern Construction Method

Abstract

In the RCC construction, water–cement ratio is detrimental for concrete. We always try to restrict the water–cement ratio because we want structure achieve its higher strength rather it is necessary for structure life. For the chemical reaction which is generated in cement and water, water–cement ratio of less than 0.38, whereas the adopted water–cement ratio is much more than that mainly because of the requirement of workability. After the requirement of workability is over, this excess water will eventually evaporate leaving capillary pores in the concrete. In the concrete, the result of these pores is higher permeability and less strength. Therefore, workability and high strength do not go together as their requirements are contradictory to each other. Vacuum dewatering is the effective technique used to overcome this contradiction of opposite requirements of workability and high strength. With this technique both these are possible at the same time.