# Study on Vibration Compaction Behavior of Fresh Concrete Mixture with Ternary Aggregate Grading

## TL;DR

This study examines how fully graded fresh concrete absorbs and transfers vibration energy during compaction, offering insights for optimizing construction practices.

## Contribution

A novel energy transfer model for fully graded concrete is developed, revealing unique vibration behavior and safe energy thresholds.

## Key findings

- Fully graded concrete absorbs more energy initially (423 W) and transfers it efficiently (76.3%) compared to two-graded concrete.
- Energy absorption efficiency decreases rapidly after initial vibration due to a dense aggregate skeleton formation.
- Safe vibration energy thresholds for fully graded concrete are 159.7 J·kg−1 (lower) and 538.5 J·kg−1 (upper).

## Abstract

The vibration compaction behavior of fully graded fresh concrete differs fundamentally from that of conventional two-graded concrete. Based on measured vibration responses of an internal vibrator and sinking-ball tests, an energy transfer model for fully graded concrete was established by incorporating the effects of aggregate-specific surface area, paste–aggregate ratio, dynamic damping, and natural frequency, and the spatiotemporal attenuation of vibration energy in fresh concrete was systematically analyzed. Experimental results indicate that fully graded concrete exhibits a higher energy absorption capacity during the early stage of vibration, with a maximum energy absorption rate of 423 W and a peak energy transfer efficiency of 76.3%, both of which are significantly higher than those of two-graded concrete at the same slump. However, as a dense aggregate skeleton rapidly forms, the energy absorption efficiency of fully graded concrete decreases more rapidly during the middle and later stages of vibration, showing a characteristic pattern of “high initial absorption followed by rapid attenuation.” Through segregation assessment and porosity analysis, a safe vibration energy range for fully graded concrete was quantitatively determined, with lower and upper energy thresholds of 159.7 J·kg−1 and 538.5 J·kg−1, respectively. In addition, the experiments identified recommended vibration durations of 30–65 s and effective vibration influence radii of 22–85 mm for fully graded concrete under different slump conditions. These findings provide a quantitative basis for the control of vibration parameters and energy-oriented construction of fully graded concrete.