Described is a cementitious material delivery system having at least one material box (10) with a lower access point (16) that is connected to a collection hopper (22). Also described is a cementitious material delivery system having at least one container (38) with an unloading end (42) that is located proximate to a collection hopper (22). The at least one container (38) can be positioned on at least one shelf (18) that can be raised so that the unloading end (42) is tilted toward the collection hopper (22).

The present invention discloses an optimized preparation method of a carbonization-based lightweight CO.sub.2 foamed cement-based material, and belongs to the field of geotechnical engineering materials. The preparation method includes: step S1: pre-screening existing common cement-based foaming agents and foam stabilizers; step S2: preparing a water-based carbon dioxide foam; step S3: preparing a cement slurry, and mixing the water-based carbon dioxide foam with the cement slurry to prepare a lightweight CO.sub.2 foamed cement-based material; step S4: selecting foaming agents of different types and different concentrations and foam stabilizers of different types and different concentrations to prepare slurries, subjecting the slurries to slurry performance tests, and selecting the optimal ones; step S5: optimizing initial water-to-cement ratio and foam-to-slurry ratio parameters; and step S6: optimizing a gas-filling volume parameter (water pump speed).

The present invention discloses an optimized preparation method of a carbonization-based lightweight CO.sub.2 foamed cement-based material, and belongs to the field of geotechnical engineering materials. The preparation method includes: step S1: pre-screening existing common cement-based foaming agents and foam stabilizers; step S2: preparing a water-based carbon dioxide foam; step S3: preparing a cement slurry, and mixing the water-based carbon dioxide foam with the cement slurry to prepare a lightweight CO.sub.2 foamed cement-based material; step S4: selecting foaming agents of different types and different concentrations and foam stabilizers of different types and different concentrations to prepare slurries, subjecting the slurries to slurry performance tests, and selecting the optimal ones; step S5: optimizing initial water-to-cement ratio and foam-to-slurry ratio parameters; and step S6: optimizing a gas-filling volume parameter (water pump speed).

The invention relates to a method for layer-by-layer deposition of concrete by providing extrudable concrete. A first flow comprising a binder material and water and a second flow comprising a carrier material, an additional component and water are mixed in a static mixer to form a third flow of extrudable concrete. The material of the second flow has a shorter initial setting time than the material of the first flow. The first flow has a first viscosity V1 and the second flow has a second viscosity V2 so that the ratio V1/V2 ranges between 1/40 and 40. The third flow has a viscosity larger than the viscosity of the first flow and the second flow and a yield stress larger than the yield stress of the first flow and the second flow. The material of the third flow has an initial setting time shorter than initial setting time of the first flow.

The invention further relates to a system to extrude concrete, in particular for layer-by-layer deposition of concrete.

An environmental-friendly mortar robot comprises a first, second, third, and fourth container module. The first container module (2) consists of a sand midway silo, a weighing system, a stirring system, and a control system; the second container module (3) consists of a cement silo, a spiral conveying machine, a material level meter and a water storage tank; the third container module (4) consists of a fly-ash silo, a spiral conveying machine, a material level meter and an air storage tank with an air compressor; the fourth container module (5) consists of a sand storage bin, an elevator, a material level meter and an additive storage box. While transporting, the first container module can be respectively detached into four functional modules which are directly put onto a transporting vehicle together with other three container modules for transportation.

A system comprises a cement mixer, a supply tank to supply dry cement to the cement mixer, and a dry cement height sensor to measure the height of the dry cement in the cement supply tank. A valve controls the flow of dry cement to the cement supply tank based on the signals from the dry cement height sensor. Additional apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed.

A system for delivering and applying a flowable mixture to an article (311-313) is disclosed. The system includes a mixture delivery system (200) and a skinning system (300). The mixture delivery system (200) includes a mixer (220) configured to mix a dry material and a fluid to produce the flowable mixture, and a pump (235) configured to pump the flowable mixture to a delivery line. The skinning system (300) receives the flowable mixture from the mixture delivery system (200) through the delivery line. The skinning system (300) includes a skinning pipe (310) configured to apply the flowable mixture to the article (311-313) and a manifold (305) that supports the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) also includes an article feeding mechanism (315) configured to push the article (311-313) into the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) includes a transfer system (320) configured to hold the article (311-313) and move the article (311-313) out of the skinning pipe (310).

A system and process for mixing and distributing building materials. This system and process can also include a way or a means for calibrating the mixing of these materials. This system and process can also include a system for tracking the materials that flow through the system, and for controlling the type of material used in the system.

In some embodiments, a method may include preparing building forms including at least some cementitious materials. The method for preparing forms may include mixing substantially dry cementitious material particles with closed cell foam particles to form a substantially dry composition. In some embodiment, at least some of the cementitious material particles may adhere to at least some surface deformations on the surface of the closed cell foam particles. In some embodiments, the method may include mixing a second portion of water with the substantially dry composition for a second period of time to form a partially wet composition. In some embodiments, a method may include forming a building form including at least some cementitious materials from the partially wet composition. In some embodiments, the closed cell foam particles may include expanded polystyrene. In some embodiments, a ratio of the water to cementitious material particles may range from 0.20 to 0.40.

The invention provides compositions and methods directed to carbonation of a cement mix during mixing. The carbonation may be in a stationary mixer or a transportable mixer, such as a drum of a ready-mix truck.