National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. (n.d.). Concrete
in Practice: CIP 17- Flowable fill materials. Retrieved from https://www.nrmca.org/aboutconcrete/cips/17p.pdf
This article discusses on the characteristics and properties
of flowable fill. Flowable fill is a self-compacting low strength material. Generally,
flowable fills are used for construction needs such as backfilling in sewer or
utility trenches. Most applications of flowable fills in trenches comprises
with an ultimate strength of not more than 1.4 Megapascals(Mpa). This is to
allow excavation by equipment. However, for manual excavation the ultimate
strength should be less than 0.3Mpa.
Flowable fill is beneficial as it safes cost in labour and equipment.
The article also added that manual compaction is not required and flowable
fills are able to fill up inaccessible areas. This improves worker safety as
they do not need to enter trenches as often. Depending on the cementitious
material used, the pH value of flowable fill may be able to shield surrounding
metal from corroding. This is important as utility pipes are placed in trenches
which is then backfilled with flowable fill. Therefore, maintenance of these
pipes will not be as troublesome for construction workers.
The article provides useful background information for our
research project on integrating fly ash into flowable fill. It explains the
strength provided from flowable fill in order to be excavatable. Todays flowable
fill used has a much higher ultimate strength. By integrating fly ash into
flowable fill, it reduces the overall ultimate strength to the point where it can
be manually excavated which is economical and sustainable as explain in the article.
This article is a good reference to support the benefits of using flowable fill.
Hi Wei Zhang,
ReplyDeleteYour annotated summary was detailed on the topic of flowable fills and well read. The concept of self compaction is very interesting and I wonder if it is a possibility to, someday, integrate that concept in high rise building constructions.
Overall, great effort on your annotated summary and you managed to link it to your group's research project as well. Hope to read more of your future writings.
Regards,
Thoufeek Ansari
Hi Wei Zhang
ReplyDeleteThis is a detailed summary, stated the important key point for Fly Ash. In this summary, you illustrated the cost and productivity well.
Overall, you linked this summary to your research project well. Thumbs up for that.
Regards
Frank
Hi Wei Zhang
ReplyDeleteIt is a well written summary about flowable fill. It is very informative to read with statistics given. Great effort in linking the content toward your group’s research project.
Cheers
JiaYing
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Wei Zhang,
ReplyDeleteThe annotated summary you wrote is short yet full of details, i can tell that you understand your research topic very well. However, i am a little confused when you state "adding fly-ash will reduce the overall ultimate strength", because adding fly ash will improve the strength of cementitious material significantly over time. I supposed you mean adding fly-ash will improve the workability(because of the circular shape of fly-ash atoms, that lubricate cement particles) of the flowable fill, which makes it easy to excavate