Title:
Field Investigation of Pumping Air-Entrained Concrete
Author(s):
Chad J. Staffileno, M. Tyler Ley, and Daniel Cook
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
123
Issue:
4
Appears on pages(s):
109-114
Keywords:
air-entrained concrete; freezing-and-thawing durability; hardened air-void analysis; pumping concrete; sampling concrete; Super Air Meter (SAM)
DOI:
10.14359/51749503
Date:
7/1/2026
Abstract:
Pumping concrete is widely reported to modify the air volume of fresh concrete. The study compares changes in the air volume and air-void distribution in both fresh and hardened concrete before pumping and after the concrete is discharged from the pump hose. This comparison is made for 62 different concrete mixtures from 20 field projects using 18 different concrete pumps. These results show that after pumping, the air volume and Super Air Meter (SAM) numbers are sometimes significantly changed, but when checking the hardened concrete, there is minimal change in the air volume and air-void spacing. Further, evidence is given for the air to restabilize within the fresh concrete before the concrete hardens.
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