On this flood wall job in Pennsylvania, a vibrating screed was used to level and

consolidate the concrete. Here the screed is starting its pass from the bottom of the
slope to the top. The screed was moved up the slope by means of a power winch.

Concreting Inclined Planes

C

O N T R AC TORS have long been faced with the necessity of placing concrete on inclined planes. Howe ve r, some modern developments in concrete construction have substantially increased the number of times
contractors are likely to be faced with this problem. A
few of the concrete applications which might entail this
problem include shell roofs, reservoir and tank covers,
embankment stabilization projects, and parking garage
ramps.

Concrete characteristics
Slump assumes considerable importance in this work.
Depending upon the cant of the forms or ground, slump
for inclined concrete placement usually varies from 3 to
0 inches. Aggregate gradation curves should be as
smooth as possible to facilitate thorough consolidation
of the concrete and maintain good workability. This is
especially important when top forms are necessary. It is
desirable to have as cohesive a mix as possible since segregation can prove a formidable problem in this work.
Therefore, air entrainment is usually desirable and thorough aggregate coating is necessary. When placing concrete directly on the ground, for example in embankment stabilization jobs, it should be determined if the
problem of reactive aggregates exists in the area in which

concreting is to be done. If it does, either Type II or Type

V cement should be used and the use of calcium chloride should be avoided.
It would be wise to discuss the work in advance with
your ready mix supplier so that he will be able to take
steps to ensure the special concrete chara c t e ri s t i c s
needed. Concreting inclined shapes, especially if the job
is large or the shapes are intricate, necessitates a wellworked out schedule. Placement operations should proceed rapidly. Any unforeseen interruption in the schedule could result in cold joints or a poor surface finish
which, in the case of such work as shell roofs, would
prove highly undesirable. If a large area is to be concreted, it is often advisable to employ a retarder to ensure
completion of the entire member before setting takes
place. In all of these cases the ready mix supplier should
be informed well in advance of the concrete requirements and the time schedule to be followed.

Receiving and transporting concrete

On especially difficult or unusual projects it might be
worthwhile to have a dry run covering concreting procedures. This will help to iron out any unforeseen difficulties that might arise. When a continuous rate of concrete
placement is essential even minor problems can have
serious effects.

Make sure that the device for transferring concrete

from the truck to the point of placement is ready to operate before the first truck arrives and that it will continue to be operative during placement. In the case of shell
roofs, reservoir tops and many other inclined concreting
jobs, the path of transporting concrete must be altered
many times to work around concrete already in place.
Select a means of transporting the concrete which will
not result in segregation. Portable conveyor belts have
been used for these applications with great success.
Power buggies can be used if the formwork is designed
to support them. If the area of concrete to be placed is
of such magnitude that it will require ove rt i m e, make
arrangements in advance with the workers and the
union for smooth turnover of shifts or continuation of
work beyond normal quitting time. If placement operations are likely to continue into the night, adequate lighting and a dependable power supply should be set up before the job begins.
If top forms are required because of the steepness of
the surface to be cast, these should all be on hand and
checked for fit before the concrete arri ve s. Once concrete placement has begun there will be no time to scout
up these forms or make adjustments in their fit.
Because much of this work entails slabs that are quite
thin (some shell roofs are 3 inches or less in thickness) it
is necessary to position reinforcement at exactly the correct distance from the form face. In addition, it must be
fastened more securely than reinforcement for hori zo ntal slabs. Both gravity and workers scrambling over it
tend to displace reinforcement on inclined planes.
In other words, in this work it is an absolute necessity
that planning be all-inclusive. Because continuity of
concreting operations is so important on many inclined
concreting protects there is no room for delays once it
has started.

Placing and consolidating

Once the ready mix does begin to arrive, make sure
that the trucks are not kept waiting. Excessive mixing
and high temperatures, the latter especially pronounced
on sunny days, result in wide variations in slump. This
cannot be tolerated when placing concrete on an incline.
Concrete placement should always begin at the lowest
point on the forms and proceed toward the highest point.
This frequently entails extra work because fresh concrete
must often be transported over concrete already in place.
Nevertheless, it is a rule that should not be broken. When
concrete is placed on inclined forms from a high point toward a low point, the weight of the mix pulls the concrete apart. This condition is further aggravated when the
concrete is vibrated. Concreting in this incorrect manner
almost always results in the formation of numerous
cracks. On the other hand, when concrete is placed from
the low point toward the high point the weight of the mix
helps to consolidate the mass.

Proper vibration can be of great help in achieving

thorough compaction of concrete placed along an inclined plane. Its effectiveness will hinge to a great extent
on the technique of the operator and the thickness of the
slab being cast. Unless a contractors workmen have had
prior experience in this type of work it will prove highly
beneficial to stage a small-scale demonstration for them
before concreting of the actual job is commenced. If a
thin structural slab is being cast, consideration should
be given to form vibrators because spud type units are
not as effective for this work.
On a 3-mile long, 8-inch concrete flood wall project
reported in the Fe b ru a ry, 1958, issue of Concrete Construction, a special vibrating screed was used. Ordinarily screeding follows consolidating with internal vibrators
on these jobs. The vibrating screed accomplished both
operations simultaneously. It was moved up the slope by
means of a power winch as concreting proceeded.
Top forms should be positioned as soon after placement of the concrete as practicable. If the concrete is allowed to move down the slope before they are put in
place honeycombing is likely to take place.

Curing and protection

All concrete requires good curing and protection in order to develop its potential strength and durability. Inclined concrete slabs, howe ve r, are often more vulnerable to improper practices in these areas. Because they
are frequently thin in cross-section with high surface
area in proportion to mass they are more susceptible to
extremes in temperature and loss of moisture due to low
humidity and/or winds. In cold weather structural slabs
should be protected by heating the area beneath the
f o rm w o rk and preventing loss of heat from the formwork and concrete through the use of tarpaulins or other protective coverings above the slab. With slabs placed
on the ground a heated enclosure will be required, and
the ground must be thoroughly thawed out before concrete is placed on it. On hot, dry, windy days curing must
be initiated immediately.

In conclusion
Placing concrete on inclined planes need not be a difficult job. If a few special rules are kept in mind and the
usual quality concrete procedures are strictly followed,
the results will be good. The main points to remember
are: (1) plan thoroughly; (2) order and maintain concrete
of the proper consistency; (3) start at the lowest point
and work toward the highest point; and (4) start curing
and protection early and continue for the proper length
of time.

PUBLICATION #C650205
Copyright 1965, The Aberdeen Group
All rights reserved