Slipform Pavers
Slipform pavers are construction machinery used to properly finish and compact asphalt floors. These machines have a very important place in construction work. The production capacities of these machines vary according to their models. There are models that produce up to 240 meters per hour.
It is generally used in the final stage of asphalt road constructions. It is used in the final stage to compact the surface and make it smooth. Machines with easy working principle have many advantages. In addition to its advantages, there are also a number of negative features that should be considered.
What are Slipform Pavers and What Are Their Usage Areas?
Slipform pavers ensure the smoothness of the ground in the paving operations of asphalt. It is one of the construction equipment used for the surface to have a smooth finish. Thanks to the machines, the upper surface of the asphalt is smoothed and compacted. For this reason, these machines are among the vehicles that should be used on asphalt roads, parking lots and airport runways.
The parts that make up the slipform pavers; it is a frame, movable platform, rollers located both in the back and in the front, screw conveyors. While the frames in the machine are smoothing the asphalt surface, excessive vibration is prevented.
Operation of Slipform Pavers
The way slipform pavers work is quite easy and simple. The machine is placed on the asphalt to be corrected. The placed paver is passed over the asphalt together with its slipforms. Slipforms regulate and compact the asphalt, making it smooth. The straightening process is done by the rolls in front and behind the machine.
The screw conveyor part in the front of the machine controls the flow of the material in the asphalt. The screw conveyor in the rear collects the asphalt and sends it to the screw conveyor in the front. Thanks to these parts, the asphalt is made smooth.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Slipform Pavers
Slipform pavers have many advantages and disadvantages. Their main advantages include high work efficiency, smooth surface, easy portability, and low maintenance and operating costs. Disadvantages include being expensive, not suitable for large-scale jobs, low maneuverability and difficult maintenance.
Advantages
The most important point among the advantages of these machines is work efficiency. Due to the high work efficiency, a large surface can be flattened in a short time. The work to be done will be completed in a very short time. Thanks to the smoothness of the roads, it increases the road comfort while driving.
Due to their easy portability, they can be easily transported in different construction sites. Thanks to low operating and maintenance fees, businesses save economically.
Disadvantages
The biggest disadvantage of these machines is their high cost. Since high technology is needed during production, its price can be expensive compared to many other construction equipment. It may not be among the right options for large-capacity jobs. Because the maneuverability of the machine is quite limited.
Pavers can be difficult to maintain and repair. Since the machine has many parts, it should be maintained by a specialist technician. They are difficult to use and manage because they are large and bulky machines.
Slipform paver is used in the construction of concrete walls, curbs, gutters and narrow roads. Thanks to its concrete feeding and slipforms, slipform pavers are versatile construction equipment. In addition to small-scale projects, it is also preferred in projects where concrete and asphalt are used extensively, such as highways, main roads, airstrips and railway lines. Thanks to its multiple layers, it performs both single-layer and two-layer casting processes.
Offset type slipform pavers: In offset type pavers, concrete is transported to the formwork via the loading conveyor. Mold design can be made in many different sizes according to the project shape. The profiles used in the machine can be produced in different forms, with and without reinforcement.
Inner slipform pavers: On interior slipform machines, mixed concrete is loaded in front of the machine. It is also distributed with the part called spreading auger. Vibrators that provide vibration also ensure that the concrete is spread homogeneously.
Slipform Concrete Paver Features
Slipform paver is used on construction sites for laying asphalt as well as concrete. The main features of the machine are as follows:
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Thanks to its automation system, it allows automatic casting.
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Thanks to the automation system, the operator can deal with different operations at the same time.
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Vibrators in the machine compact the concrete (or asphalt) by making it smooth.
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Compressed concrete (or asphalt) has a more durable and smooth appearance.
Thanks to the modular mold system, a single machine can work in more than one project. Thanks to the special molds prepared according to the project, work can be carried out from small to large projects.
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It has tamper bar system.
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It can both undertake the task of paver and carry out the transportation of materials.
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It has telescopic chassis, geo-flat and concrete-asphalt distributor systems.
Slipform Concrete Paver Benefits
Slipform paver is used to spread the concrete on the floor in an efficient and regular manner. This equipment, which is used in construction sites where concrete and asphalt are used, has many benefits. The most important of these benefits are:
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It provides fast and smooth finishing of concrete.
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It is extremely fast and efficient compared to the manual work of workers.
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It reduces the need for workers as they are more efficient than manpower.
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It not only prevents work accidents, but also reduces labor costs.
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It ensures that the ground is perfectly smooth by means of its high-sensitivity sensors.
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It has a wide application area. (Highway, airport, railways, factories, landscaping.)
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Operators can easily manage the machine thanks to the control panel.
Texturing and Curing Machine
In addition to the slipform paver, a texturing and curing machine is also used. This machine moves right behind the paver. It is used to obtain the desired texture on concrete or asphalt ground. It is moved by dragging over the poured concrete. It applies the curing equipment on the poured concrete. In general, a trowel is used in the paver instead of this part. The curing part is used after casting is complete. It is recommended to cure, especially after the wetness of the first casting is gone. For the most effective curing, a forward pass followed by a reverse pass is required. In this way, it is ensured that the curing membrane completely covers the concrete.