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Last edited 15 Apr 2019

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Concrete

Contents

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1 Introduction
2 History
3 Benefits of concrete
4 Limitations of concrete
5 Characteristics of concrete
6 Concrete strength
7 Formwork
8 Sustainability
9 Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.

Introduction
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Concrete is the most commonly used man-made material on earth. It is an important
construction material used extensively in buildings, bridges, roads and dams. Its uses range
from structural applications, to paviours, kerbs, pipes and drains.

Concrete is a composite material, consisting mainly of Portland cement, water and aggregate
(gravel, sand or rock). When these materials are mixed together, they form a workable paste
which then gradually hardens over time.

For the different types, see Types of concrete.

History Your chance to comment on the draft BS 851188

- flood resistance products and flood protection
A material similar to concrete was first developed by the Egyptians, consisting of lime and products.
gypsum. Typically, lime, chalk or oyster shells continued being used as the cement forming
agent until the early-1800s.
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In 1824, Portland cement, a mixture of limestone and clay was burned and ground, and since
then, this has remained the predominant cementing agent used in concrete production.

Benefits of concrete

There are numerous positive aspects of concrete:

It is a relatively cheap material and has a relatively long life with few maintenance
requirements.
It is strong in compression.
Before it hardens it is a very pliable substance that can easily be shaped.
It is non-combustible.

Limitations of concrete

The limitations of concrete include:

Rebuilding could take 20 to 40 years.
Relatively low tensile strength when compared to other building materials.
Low ductability.
Low strength-to-weight ratio.
It is susceptible to cracking. One Park Taipei

Characteristics of concrete

The characteristics of concrete are determined by the aggregate or cement used, or by the
method that is used to produce it. The water-to-cement ratio is the determining factor in
ordinary structural concrete with a lower water content resulting in a stronger concrete.

This, however, reduces the workability (and pumpability) of the concrete, which can be
measured using the slump test. The grading, shape, texture and proportion of aggregate can
also have a similar affect. If a particularly strong concrete is required, the amount of aggregate
can be reduced in relation to the cement. However, cement is a significant cost factor, and
increasing its proportion in the mix will increase the overall price.

For more information, see The properties of concrete.

Concrete strength

Concrete strength is determined by the force required to crush it and is measured in pounds
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per square inch or kilograms per square centimetre. Strength can be affected by many
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variables including moisture and temperature.

The tensile strength of concrete can be improved with the addition of metal rods, wires, cables
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or mesh. Where very high tensile stresses are expected (such as in wide unsupported spans in
roofs or bridges) concrete can include pretensioned steel wires. This creates compressive
forces in the concrete that help offset the tensile forces that the structure is subject to.

Sacrificial probes can be integrated within concrete to provide strength determination and this
is likely to help improve construction methodologies.

For more information, see Testing concrete.

Formwork BSRIA study reveals strong growth in 2018.

Formwork is a temporary mould into which concrete is poured and formed. Traditional
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formwork is fabricated using timber, but it can also be constructed from steel, glass fibre
reinforced plastics and other materials.

Formwork may be; temporary, re-usable, or stay-in-place. There are also a number of
proprietary systems such as those used to support vertical formwork while concrete cures,
consisting of a series of tubes and ties.

Efficiency within concrete construction is being improved by the adoption of hybrid solutions
and innovations in formwork such as self-climbing forms.

See Formwork for more information.

Dame Judith Hackitt confirmed as keynote

Sustainability speaker – one year on from the Hackitt Report.

Concrete has a relatively high embodied energy, resulting from its extraction, manufacture and Save £100 on tickets.

transportation. Waste materials can be included within the concrete mix such as Recycled
Crushed Aggregate (RCA), Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBS) and Pulverised Ethics and professionalism
Fuel Ash (PFA).

In addition, moves are being made to assess the potential of using recycled concrete, however,
issues such as moisture content and material variability may make this unviable.

Concrete is a very durable, low maintenance material and can provide thermal mass, helping
reduce the energy consumption of buildings in operation.

Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.

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Admixtures in concrete.
Alkali-activated binder.
Alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR). Modern slavery in the construction sector.
Alkali-silica reaction (ASR).
Architectural concrete.
Cast-in-place concrete. Contract law
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Compression.
Concrete in aggressive ground (SD 1).
Concrete-steel composite structures.
Concrete repair mortars.
Concrete superplasticizer.
Concrete vs. steel.
Concreting plant.
Floor slab.
Glass reinforced concrete.
Hempcrete.
How to clean concrete.
Laitance.
Portland cement.
Precast concrete.
Prestressed concrete.
Power float.
Reinforced concrete. What to bear in mind when claiming damages in
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construction.
Screed.
Self-compacting concrete.
Slip form.
Smart concrete. Infrastructure
Stratification of concrete.
Testing concrete.
The properties of concrete.
The use of concrete structures to protect construction sites.
Tilt up construction.
Types of concrete.

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