Systems, apparatus and methods for testing and predicting the performance of concrete mixtures
A mobile calorimeter includes a container comprising one or more walls defining a cavity. The container is adapted to hold a concrete mixture within the cavity. The mobile calorimeter also includes one or more heat flow sensors adapted to detect a heat flow generated by the concrete mixture. The heat flow sensors may include a thermoelectric device, a Peltier plate, or a macro fiber composite (MFC) sensor. The one or more heat flow sensors may be attached to the one or more walls, or may be embedded within the one or more walls. Data relating to a heat flow is obtained by the heat flow sensors, and is used to generate a prediction of a characteristic or performance of the concrete mixture.
1. A measurement system comprising:
a container comprising:
a first cylindrical wall having a first radius, the first cylindrical wall having an exterior surface;
a second cylindrical wall having a second radius greater than the first radius;
a first end portion having an interior surface, the first end portion being solid with no opening that passes therethrough; and
a second end portion, the second end portion being solid with no opening that passes therethrough;
wherein a first volume defined by the first cylindrical wall, the first end portion and the second end portion is adapted to hold one of a standard 4×8-inch concrete test cylinder and a standard 6×12-inch concrete test cylinder;
wherein a second volume between the first and second cylindrical walls comprises a quantity of air;
a temperature sensor disposed on the interior surface of the first end portion, wherein the temperature sensor protrudes from the interior surface and does not penetrate the first end portion, the temperature sensor being adapted to:
penetrate an exposed surface of the concrete mixture in the cylinder; and
obtain a measurement of temperature of the concrete mixture; and
one or more heat flow sensors disposed on the exterior surface of the first cylindrical wall, in the second volume between the first and second walls, wherein each of the one or more heat flow sensors is separated from the concrete mixture disposed in the first volume by the first wall, each of the heat flow sensors adapted to generate data relating to a heat flow generated by the concrete mixture.
2. The measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heat flow sensors include one of a thermoelectric device, a Peltier plate, and a macro fiber composite (MFC) sensor.
3. The measurement system of claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency identification tag.
4. The measurement system of claim 1 , further comprising one of a humidity sensor, a motion sensor, and a GPS-based location sensor.
5. A concrete testing system comprising:
the measurement system of claim 1 ;
a network; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the measurement system via the network, the processor being adapted to:
receive, via the network, the data from the one or more heat flow sensors; and
generate a prediction of a characteristic of the concrete mixture, based on the data.
6. A measuring device comprising: a first wall; a top portion, the top portion being solid with no opening that passes therethrough; and a bottom portion, the bottom portion being solid with no opening that passes therethrough; wherein the first wall, the top portion, and the second portion enclose a first volume adapted to hold one of a standard 4×8-inch concrete test cylinder and a standard 6×12-inch concrete test cylinder; the measuring device further comprising: a second wall enclosing the first wall, wherein the first and second walls define a second volume; and a heat flow sensor disposed in the second volume wherein the heat flow sensor is separated from the first volume by the first wall.
7. The measuring device of claim 6 , wherein:
the first wall comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface;
the heat flow sensor is disposed on the exterior surface.
8. The measuring device of claim 6 , wherein the first volume is adapted to hold one of a standard 4×8-inch concrete test cylinder and a standard 6×12-inch concrete test cylinder.