System and method for controlling concrete production

A method for generating a rheological profile of a given concrete mix, the method comprising the steps of;

• effecting shear deformation in a mass of said concrete mix;
• sensing at least two measures relating to the resistance of said concrete mass to said shear deformation;
• generating, from said at least two measures, at least one variable relating to the workability of said concrete mix;
• generating at least one additional variable from the ratio of two of said at least two measures;
• and
• creating said rheological profile from said variables,
• wherein said concrete mass changes shape during said step of effecting shear deformation, and wherein said step of sensing senses at least two different measures of the resistance of said concrete mass to shear during said shear deformation.

A method for the control of production and the design of concrete mixes to have desired rheological properties, the method comprising the steps of:

• preparing a concrete mix in a concrete plant in accordance with a mix design indicating the proportions of solid components and water content of the concrete;
• testing said prepared concrete mix with a concrete tester;
• generating a rheological profile of said concrete mix from output of said step of testing;
• comparing said generated rheological profile with a desired rheological profile defining desired properties of the concrete to be produced by said plant;
• and
• adjusting said proportions of said solid components of said mix design in order to produce concrete having a rheological profile which is compatible with said desired rheological profile,
• wherein said desired rheological profile comprise a measure of workability and at least one of the following factors and their related functions:
• stress state sensitivity, stress distribution, shear rate sensitivity, vibration decay, vibratability, pumpability and deformability.

A system which designs and produces concrete to have desired rheological properties, the system comprising:

• a plant for preparing a concrete mix in accordance with a mix design indicating the proportions of the solid components and water of the concrete;
• a concrete profile measuring unit for measuring a rheological profile of the concrete produced by said plant;
• and
• a mix changing unit for receiving said measured rheological profile and a desired rheological profile defining desired properties of the concrete produced by said plant and for indicating to said plant to adjust said solid components of said concrete mix, as many times as necessary, in order to produce concrete which has a rheological profile which is compatible with said rheological profile, said mix changing unit comprising a search unit for receiving a quality of change criterion and for determining the mix design change which will provide concrete having said rheological profile which is compatible with said desired rheological profile and which fits within said quality of change criterion, wherein said criterion is a function of the cost of the mix.