This is Brenda writing again. Today I had to go to Rhode Island to witness some concrete tests for work. The tests were held at a batch plant, which is a facility that makes fresh concrete for construction jobs. I had to leave home at 5:30 a.m. in order to get to the plant in time for the tests.
Most batch plants (like all construction sites) are filled with male workers. It was nice to meet Fran (below), who is the dispatcher for this plant. Her job, as she puts it, is to "tell men where to go all day". Fran showed me some photos of her newest grandson, and I shared some photos of my girls with her.
The photo below shows the control room for the batch plant. This is where they control all the ingredients for the concrete mix. Anthony is the controller for this plant.
The tests were trial batches for a heavyweight concrete mix that we will be pouring next summer. They have to run trials now to prove to the bridge designer that they can make the correct mix. Because the rocks in the mix are so heavy, they are added to the truck in small amounts, in the bags shown below. It's hard to see, but there is a worker standing up near the truck hopper, cutting the bottom of the bag open with a knife so the rocks can fall out. I was glad I didn't have his job!
The guy below is Matt, the quality control guy for the project. He was responsible for keeping the paperwork during the tests.
After the batches were mixed in the truck, the concrete was dumped out and various tests were conducted for unit weight, air content, and slump.
The tests went great! Next summer we will use this mix to pour the counterweights for the bascule bridge we are building in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Most batch plants (like all construction sites) are filled with male workers. It was nice to meet Fran (below), who is the dispatcher for this plant. Her job, as she puts it, is to "tell men where to go all day". Fran showed me some photos of her newest grandson, and I shared some photos of my girls with her.
The photo below shows the control room for the batch plant. This is where they control all the ingredients for the concrete mix. Anthony is the controller for this plant.
The tests were trial batches for a heavyweight concrete mix that we will be pouring next summer. They have to run trials now to prove to the bridge designer that they can make the correct mix. Because the rocks in the mix are so heavy, they are added to the truck in small amounts, in the bags shown below. It's hard to see, but there is a worker standing up near the truck hopper, cutting the bottom of the bag open with a knife so the rocks can fall out. I was glad I didn't have his job!
The guy below is Matt, the quality control guy for the project. He was responsible for keeping the paperwork during the tests.
After the batches were mixed in the truck, the concrete was dumped out and various tests were conducted for unit weight, air content, and slump.
The tests went great! Next summer we will use this mix to pour the counterweights for the bascule bridge we are building in Fall River, Massachusetts.
TFS... It is great keeping up with the Nichols!!!!
ReplyDeleteoooh a bascule. I didn't know anyone did those anymore. awesom. single leaf or double? overhead weight?
ReplyDelete