Systems, apparatus and methods for obtaining measurements concerning the strength and performance of concrete mixtures

Abstract

A smart cap system includes a cap adapted to fit on a concrete test cylinder, the cap including one or more internal surfaces, and one or more sensors disposed in or on the one or more internal surfaces of the cap, the one or more sensors being adapted to obtain a measurement of a characteristic of a concrete mixture disposed in the test cylinder. The cap may be adapted to fit on one of a 4×8-inch cylinder and a 6×12-inch cylinder. The one or more sensors may include one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a chronometer, a heat flow sensor, a motion sensor, a pH sensor, a location detector, a GPS sensor, an accelerometer, a triangulation sensor, a thermoelectric heat flow sensor, a salinity sensor, a macro fiber composite (MFC) sensor, and a capillary sensor.

1 . A measurement system comprising:
 a cap adapted to fit on a concrete test cylinder, the cap comprising:
 a top portion adapted to cover at least a portion of an opening of the concrete test cylinder, the top portion including a top interior surface; 
 a side portion adapted to fit around a circumference of the concrete test cylinder; and 
   a sensor holder system disposed on the top interior surface of the cap, the sensor holder system comprising:
 a sensor enclosure component comprising:
 a volume adapted to hold one or more sensors; and 
 a surface comprising one or more holes adapted to allow a flow of air to pass into the volume; and 
 at least one sensor disposed in the sensor enclosure component. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein the cap includes a double-walled structure having first and second walls and a volume between the first and second walls, wherein the volume holds one of air and a selected insulating material. 
     
     
         3 . The measurement system of  claim 3 , wherein the cap is adapted to fit on one of a 4×8-inch cylinder, a 6×12-inch cylinder, a 150 mm cube, and a 200 mm cube. 
     
     
         4 . The measurement system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor includes one of a humidity sensor, temperature sensor, a chronometer, a heat flow sensor, a motion sensor, a pH sensor, a location detector, a GPS sensor, an accelerometer, a triangulation sensor, a thermoelectric heat flow sensor, a salinity sensor, a macro fiber composite (MFC) sensor, and a capillary sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The measurement system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory adapted to store data; and   a processor adapted to:
 receive from the at least one sensor measurement data relating to a measurement of a first characteristic of the concrete mixture; and 
 generate a prediction of a second characteristic of the concrete mixture based on the measurement data. 
   
     
     
         6 . The measurement system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the at least one sensor comprises a humidity sensor;   the first characteristic includes humidity; and   the second characteristic is one of: strength, maturity, and slump.   
     
     
         7 . The measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the side portion includes a side interior surface; and   the cap further includes a third interior surface disposed between the top interior surface and the side interior surface.   
     
     
         8 . The measurement system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the side interior surface and the third interior surface define an angle between twenty (20) and forty (40) degrees;   a greatest radius of the third interior surface is equal to or greater than a radius of the concrete test cylinder; and   the third interior surface includes a plurality of concentric ridges.   
     
     
         9 . The measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein no portion of the at least one sensor passes through the cap. 
     
     
         10 . The measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic is one of: temperature, humidity, salinity, pH, inductance, impedance, resistivity, pressure, conductivity, heat flow, motion, and acceleration. 
     
     
         11 . The measurement system of  claim 10 , wherein the second characteristic is one of: strength, maturity, and slump. 
     
     
         12 . The measurement system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fabric membrane disposed in the sensor holder system, the fabric membrane being waterproof to prevent liquid from passing therethrough and breathable to enable water vapor to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a network adapted to carry data;   a plurality of cylinders containing respective specimens of concrete;   a plurality of caps disposed on the plurality of cylinders, each respective cap being disposed on a respective cylinder and including:
 a top portion adapted to cover at least a portion of an opening of the respective cylinder, the top portion including a top interior surface; 
 a side portion adapted to fit around a circumference of the respective cylinder; 
 a sensor attached to the top interior surface of the respective cap, the sensor being adapted to measure a characteristic of the associated specimen of concrete located in the respective cylinder; and 
 a transmitting device adapted to transmit, via the network, measurement data relating to measurements obtained by the associated sensor; and 
   a processor adapted to:
 receive the measurement data from the plurality of caps; and 
 for each respective cap, generate respective prediction data relating to a behavior of the associated specimen of concrete, based on the associated measurement data. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further adapted to:
 for each respective cap, generate a respective prediction of a characteristic of the associated specimen of concrete, based on the associated measurement data.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the characteristic is one of strength, maturity, and slump.