The ICAR Plus is designed to characterize the static yield stress, the dynamic yield stress and plastic viscosity of the concrete. A high static yield stress is desirable because it reduces formwork pressure and increases the resistance to segregation. But for ease of pumping, placement and self-consolidation, a low dynamic yield stress is necessary. The dynamic viscosity provides cohesiveness and reduces segregation when concrete is flowing. Thus, by determining the dynamic flow curves of concretes mixtures and optimum balance between ease of flow and resistance to segregation can be realized. These types of determinations cannot be done using conventional slump-based tests. 

The ICAR Plus is composed of a container to hold the fresh concrete, a driver head supported on a frame with an electric motor and torque meter, a four-blade vane and a laptop computer to operate, record the torque  and calculate the flow curve parameters. The size of the container and vane are selected based on the nominal maximum size of the aggregate. A multiple blade “Carrousel” vane is also available for a container for maximum aggregate size of 13 mm for more accurate and stable measurements on materials like high flow self-consolidating concrete (e.g. slump flow > 600 mm), flowable mortars or grouts (e.g. self-leveling), mortars for 3D printing, etc.

Two types of tests are performed: stress growth test at a constant slow speed where the maximum torque measured is used to calculate the static yield stress; and the flow curve test to determine the dynamic yield stress and the plastic viscosity (Bingham parameters).

Concrete Rheometer.

• Research and development to characterize the influence of new materials on concrete rheology
• Optimizing mixture proportions so that the resulting concrete flows readily but is resistant to segregation (especially important for self-consolidating concrete or pumped concrete)
• On-site quality control of mixtures

• Minimum slump: The concrete has to have a slump greater than 75 mm, otherwise the concrete is too stiff for being tested
• Nominal maximum size of aggregate (NMSA): up to 32 mm for the largest available container
• Vane rotation speed: 0.001 to 0.667 rev/s
• Motor type: Integrated Servo Motor
• Minimum Torque: 0.01 Nm
• Peak Torque: 90 Nm for not more than 2 seconds
• Continuous Maximum Torque: 32 Nm
• Power Supply: Input of 100-240 VAC – 3.5A. Output of 48V – 6.7A.
• Digital Calibration can be performed by user at any time 
• Performs static stress growth and dynamic flow curve tests 
• Software computes static yield stress, dynamic yield stress, and plastic viscosity in fundamental units
• Test time: ≈ 1 minute
• Motor drive dimensions: 11 x 11 x 43 cm
• Motor console weight: 7.5 kg
• Carrying Case dimensions: 67 x 52 x 28 cm
• Carrying Case weight: 20 kg, including motor drive, base frame, vane, power supply and cables

RHM-4000 ICAR Plus Kit

Includes:

To be ordered separately

1. Available containers and vanes for different NMSA

*Default size supplied along with the RM-4000 ICAR Plus Kit if another size is not specified.

• Technical datasheet

• Publications

No standards available.