How to succeed with your applications

CONCRETE VIBRATION

It is important to vibrate freshly poured concrete. The vibrations make the concrete fill out into all hollows of the construction. The process also evacuates air bubbles, optimizes the spread of the aggregate and maximizes cohesion of the cement mix and the rebar. This results in a resistant, long-lasting concrete with the correct calculated strength.

How to succeed with concrete vibration

DON'T WAIT
Begin vibration when concrete is being poured. Start where the concrete has first been poured. Then follow the concrete as it is poured, vibrating all the way.

VIBRATE JUST ENOUGH
Stop when the surface becomes shiny or if a large bubble pops up near the vibrator. Don’t over-vibrate as this is just as harmful as under vibration or non-vibration.

APPLY IN THE RIGHT ANGLE
Apply the vibrator vertically at an angle of 90 degrees. Never below 45 degrees.

Choose the right size

The wrong vibrator size and/or placement will result in non-vibrated areas.

Proper vibrator size and placement ensures the entire slab gets vibrated. Optimal vibration overlap is 2 x vibrator diameter.

Radius of action is 8-12 x vibrator diameter, depending on vibrator.

Some helpful tips before vibration

PLAN THE VIBRATION
Calculate the dip intervals. More power and a larger diameter on the vibrator results in fewer dips, which means higher productivity.
LUBRICATE THE HOSE
Before starting with the vibration, spray specific shutter plate oil on the vibrator hose. This will help stop concrete sticking to the hose, making it easier to clean afterwards.
ENSURE CONSISTENT POWER SUPPLY
Electric current should never vary more than +/– 10% as this will affect productivity and the life of the vibrator.

How to choose the right type of vibrator for your project

1) Consider the type of application. === = Optimal == = Good = = Acceptable - = Not recommended

VIBRATOR	SMART	SMART-E	AX	VIBRASTAR	AA	AZ	AME 600	AME 1600	AY
ENERGY	HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTRIC				MECHANICAL		MODULAR FLEX-SHAFT		PNEUMATIC
Columns	===	-	===	===	==	==	==	==	===
Beams	===	==	===	===	==	==	==	==	===
Walls	===	-	===	===	==	==	==	==	===
Floors	===	===	===	===	===	===	===	===	===
Bridges	===	-	===	-	=	-	-	==	===
Tunnels	===	=	===	-	-	-	-	-	===
Foundations	===	-	===	-	-	-	-	==	===
Retaining walls	===	-	===	==	==	==	==	==	===
Car parks	===	==	===	-	===	===	===	===	===
Structures	===	==	===	==	==	==	==	==	===
Harbours	===	-	===	-	==	-	-	==	===
Dams	===	=	===	-	-	-	-	-	===
Precast form	===	===	===	=	==	-	-	==	===
Slip form	===	===	===	=	-	-	-	-	=
Pre-slab	===	===	===	=	-	-	-	-	=

2) Consider the power supply available.

ENERGY	LARGE JOBS	MEDIUM JOBS
Electric	CF & AX/VIBRASTAR or SMART/SMART-E	AME 1600 & AT & SUPERFLEX or AME 600 & HA
Petrol	CFG/CFD & AX/VIBRASTAR	AMG 3200/AMD 3000 & AA/AZ
Pneumatic	AY

3) Consider the rebars.

To define the optimal diameter of the vibrator, consider the distance between the rebars. The distance between the rebars must be large enough for your vibrator.

4) To choose the optimal radius of action, consider the area of the slab and the slump of the concrete.

VIBRATOR	SMART	SMART-E	AX	VIBRASTAR	AA	AZ	AME 600	AME 1600	AY
Radius of action	12xvibrator Ø	12xvibrator Ø	10xvibrator Ø	8xvibrator Ø	10xvibrator Ø	8xvibrator Ø	8xvibrator Ø	10xvibrator Ø	10xvibrator Ø
Slump S 5 >220 mm	===	===	===	===	===	===	===	===	===
Slump S 4 210-160 mm	===	===	===	===	===	===	===	===	===
Slump S 3 150-100 mm	===	===	===	===	===	===	===	===	===
Slump S 2 90-50 mm	===	===	===	=	===	=	=	=	===
Slump S 1 40-10 mm	===	===	=	-	=	-	-	-	===

CONCRETE LEVELING AND SURFACING

Leveling ensures every part of the newly poured concrete slab achieves the desired level. Surfacing ensures the finish of the slab suits its intended purpose.

SCREEDED SURFACE (ROUGH)

FLOATED SURFACE (ROUGH)

STEEL TROWELLED SURFACE (SMOOTH)

SCREEDS

Screeds are used for leveling a slab and vibrating thinner slabs. For slabs thicker than the screed's vibration depth, use a vibrator.

Consider the following factors when choosing suitable screeding equipment

Desired levelness or flatness of floor

Area to cover and time available

Available power supply

Type of slump

Thickness of the concrete layer

How to succed with screeding

Make sure the pouring process is carried out seamlessly, and that you have enough concrete to cover the entire area.
Remove the excess concrete with a rake before screeding to ensure optimal flatness.
Never step on a slab that has already been screeded.

TROWELS

Trowels are used to finish a concrete floor. They use pressure to make the surface flatter and smoother.

ENERGY	EDGING Ø 600 mm	MEDIUM SIZE FLOORS Ø 850 mm	LARGE SIZE FLOORS Ø 1200 mm
Petrol	BG 245	BG 375	BG 475
Electric	BG 245 E	BG COMBI	BG COMBI

Consider the following factors when choosing troweling equipment

Area to cover

Usage of discs or blades

Type of slump

Available power supply

Size of the aggregate

How to succeed with troweling

Begin slowly. When concrete is fresh, it is fragile. If you go too fast, you may flush concrete away and create holes. Increase your speed as the concrete is curing.
For the first 1–3 passes, use floating discs or floating blades.
If you require a smoother surface, continue with finishing blades or combination blades.
Choose blades made from the right material. Steel and carbon blades are flexible and last longer, but may alter the colour of the concrete. If colour is important, e.g. when colour pigments are being used, use plastic blades.
High ambient temperatures cause concrete to dry quicker. So, if it is hot outside, the amount of time you have to trowel the concrete is reduced.

CONTRACTION JOINT SAWING

As the concrete slab hydrates and begins to set, it develops internal stresses. These stresses need to be relieved in a controlled way before they seek their own relief in the form of a random crack. By cutting control joints as a final step of the finishing process, you create a pattern of predetermined weakened planes in the concrete, that subsequently crack at the bottom of the cuts.

The Ultra Early Entry™ solution

The Husqvarna Soff-Cut® system is the optimal way to control random cracking. With ultra-early entry cutting you can control cracking in slabs up to 225 mm thick, with only a 25 mm minimum depth, within the green zone (1–2 hours after pouring).

How to succeed with Husqvarna Soff-Cut®

Start sawing as soon as you’re sure the concrete will support the weight of the saw and operator without marking or damaging the concrete. You don’t have a lot of time.
Determine the layout of the joints in advance. Ensure straight cuts by drawing guidelines on the surface to follow.
If possible, start the job with a new, unused Husqvarna XL Series dry-cutting diamond blade and anti-ravel skid plate.