Northern Irish Concrete Machinery Assists With Concrete Paving In Ohio USA

The city of Columbus, Ohio has experienced a rapid growth in recent years in the use of roller-compacted concrete (RCC) for the city streets and highways since RCC construction procedures were first introduced to the area in 2001. Using Rapid International mobile continuous twin shaft plants to mix the concrete and high density pavers and rollers to lay it, Roller Compacted Concrete is becoming a popular choice for projects due to its strength, the speed of its construction and its economic value in comparison to asphalt.

For many years the city of Columbus has made use of “composite” pavement designs, where concrete is used as the pavement base, and asphalt for the pavement surface, but with the introduction of RCC, dozens of successful projects have been completed.

This month contractors, Complete General Construction, have commenced work on a highway network in the city. Using a mobile continuous mixing plant, supplied by Rapid International Ltd, along with specialized paver and vibratory rollers, they have started laying the Roller Compacted Concrete which will provide long serviceability with minimal maintenance.

Although Roller Compacted Concrete has the same ingredients as conventional concrete; cement, water, and aggregates, it is a drier mix and stiff enough to be compacted by vibratory rollers.

It has a high flexural strength (500 to 1000 psi) (3.5 MPa to 7.0 MPa) meaning it can support heavy, repetitive loads without failure and spans localized soft subgrade areas, which reduces maintenance costs and down time.
It also has a high compressive strength (4,000 to 10,000 psi) (28 MPa to 69 MPa) allowing it to withstand high concentrated loads and impacts from heavy industrial, military, and mining applications. Its high density and low absorption provides excellent durability, even under freeze-thaw conditions and eliminates seepage through pavement.

As RCC is constructed with no joints, there is no requirement for steel reinforcing or dowels, forms or finishing or sawed joints. Construction is speedy and simplified - reducing costs, minimizing labour and eliminating the need for preventative measures taken to minimize corrosion of reinforcing steel.

RCC itself is as economical and simple to use as asphalt. Companies like Complete General Construction and Nickolas Savko & Sons, Inc., who are involved in many Roller Compacted Concrete projects, recognise the life-cycle cost savings you get when using concrete as opposed to asphalt.

The high strength of RCC pavements eliminates common and costly problems traditionally associated with asphalt pavements. The RCC has the durability to resist freeze-thaw damage. The pavements will not deform under heavy, concentrated loads and do not deteriorate from spills of fuels and hydraulic fluids. They will also not soften under high temperatures.

To date, Nick Savko & Sons, Inc. has completed over 500 roller compacted concrete (RCC) jobs, since first introducing RCC pavement in the central Ohio market in 2001. Complete General Construction, based in Ohio USA, specializes in highways, bridges, underground and paving. They have a long history in highway construction and have established working relationships with state and local governments.