The Power of Vibrating Concrete: Boosting Bridge Construction Efficiency

Brief 

Dive into the critical role of concrete vibrators in highway bridge construction, ensuring quality, strength, and on-time project completion, as exemplified by Sheet Piling Services’ successful bridge projects.

 

Insight

Building a highway bridge is a multifaceted undertaking. This is a sentiment strongly echoed by Sheet Piling Services, a renowned heavy civil contractor based in Custer, Wisconsin. With almost a decade of experience, they’ve completed numerous concrete construction projects, making the intricate look straightforward. In 2022 alone, they achieved over 30 significant highway bridge constructions.

One such project was a civil bridge replacement commissioned by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Spanning over Little Rib River in Little Chicago, Wisconsin, the beam span bridge measures a significant 105 ft. in length and 37 ft.

in width. The construction utilised precast beams, while the concrete for abutments and the bridge deck, totalling 258 cubic yards, was poured on-site. Certain elements, like the prestressed concrete bridge girders, were sourced from an offsite precast manufacturer.

An interesting highlight of the project was the 25-ft. tall concrete abutments. Due to their positioning, the crew had to opt for vibrating the concrete from the top. This task made use of Minnich Stinger and Backpack concrete vibrators, lauded for their interchangeable vibrator lengths, a unique and cost-saving feature.

The pouring of the deck posed challenges, but these were surmounted by a specialised Bid-Well 3200 machine, aided by crew members with backpack vibrators, ensuring speed and quality in the process. These vibrators allow for enhanced mobility and reduced fatigue, critical given the elevated and precarious working conditions.

The bridge project’s success was affirmed when it passed the rigorous testing phase set by WisDOT, with the project concluding 8 days ahead of schedule. A significant contributor to this success was the fleet of concrete vibrators.

These tools, though often overlooked, play a pivotal role in construction. Failures in concrete tests can incur both time and financial losses for contractors, but the vibrators help evade such pitfalls. Testament to their importance, Kosobucki’s team uses them in a majority of their projects and boasts an impressive arsenal of 12 Minnich concrete vibrators.

In summary, while they might seem minor in the broader construction landscape, concrete vibrators are instrumental in ensuring bridge projects’ efficiency and quality. Sheet Piling Services, with their vast experience and success stories, stands as a testament to this fact

 

Highlight

1. Spanning over Little Rib River in Little Chicago, Wisconsin, the beam span bridge measures a significant 105 ft. in length and 37 ft. in width. The construction utilised precast beams, while the concrete for abutments and the bridge deck, totalling 258 cubic yards, was poured on-site
2.  This task made use of Minnich Stinger and Backpack concrete vibrators, lauded for their interchangeable vibrator lengths, a unique and cost-saving feature.
3. These vibrators allow for enhanced mobility and reduced fatigue, critical given the elevated and precarious working conditions.

 

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