Which term refers to the equipment used to compact concrete and reduce air voids?

• A. Curing Compound Application Time
• B. Vibrator Use
• C. FDOT Concrete Source
• D. Neoprene Bearing Pad Texture

Answer: (B)

Consolidating freshly placed concrete to remove air voids is done with vibration. The term that refers to the equipment used for this purpose is vibrator use. Vibrators—internal units that insert into the concrete and external units that shake the form—drive the concrete so the paste flows around the aggregates and air can escape. This creates a denser, stronger, and more durable concrete with fewer honeycombed voids.

Curing compound application time pertains to when curing products are applied, not to consolidation. FDOT Concrete Source is about where the concrete comes from, and Neoprene Bearing Pad Texture relates to the pad’s surface texture, not to compaction. As an inspector, look for proper use of vibrators, appropriate insertion depth, correct operation to avoid over-vibration or segregation, and signs of adequate consolidation in each lift.