Optimum distribution of concrete carts between blocks being simultaneously concreted

Conclusions

• 1. The incorrect distribution of concrete carts between blocks being simultaneously concreted affects, to a certain degree, the efficiency of the batch plant's technical productivity. This distribution is frequently made by the “volitional” method; this results in the appearance of excessive concrete carts in the system on the one hand, and in the incomplete loading of plant capacity on the other.

• 2. The distribution of concrete carts, which is termed traditional here, and is oriented only toward the maximum rate of concrete placement in each of the blocks, and the fixing of a constant number of carts for each of the blocks during the entire concreting period do not permit complete utilization of the capacity of the batch plant in the majority of cases.

• 3. To increase the efficiency of the plant's technical productivity, this paper recommends the method of optimum cart distribution by solving the linear-programming problem Eq. (13) in lieu of the traditional method of cart distribution. Solution of this problem has permitted the authors to formulate basic rules, Eqs. (14) and (15), governing this distribution.

• 4. Since an accurate solution of the problem during production requires some operator training, or use of a simple electric computer, this paper gives the simpler approximate methods (regimes C and D), which make it possible to bring the technicoeconomic indicators of the system close to the optimum with minimum complexity of computation. They are based on the simple utilization of the differences between the maximum possible and minimum allowable rates of concrete placement in each of the blocks.

• 5. The solutions proposed make it possible to improve the technicoeconomic indicators of the system and to increase the efficiency of the concrete plant's technical productivity.

• 6. For the operational redistribution of concrete carts, it is recommended to plot a map of the construction area showing the blocks being concreted and linesa _i = const from the results of timed observations.