TYPES OF CONCRETE AND ITS APPLICATION

INTRODUCTION
In concrete technology, a variety of type-names has been used for different types of concrete. This
classification is based on three factors:

1. Type of material used in its making.

2. Nature of stress conditions.

3. And it’s density.

We are actually living in the concrete age. It has become so important because it is used in almost every
type of construction like: (buildings, roads and highways, tunnels, storage dams and power generating
plants, airports and atomic power reactors).

Thus, In buildings, it is used almost from foundation to topmost storeys. In transportation, it is used in
Streets, Highways, Airports, etc.

Concrete is also a material used extensively for water storage and transport such as in the lining of
canals and water reservoirs.

In addition to the above primary uses, It is also used as a coating material for specific purposes such as
for waterproofing, fireproofing, soundproofing and shielding against radiations in X-rays plants and
atomic power plants.

The essential property of concrete is that it sets and hardens into a strong, rock-like mass within a short
period.

The ultimate strength and other properties of concrete depend on a

number of factors, like:
 The nature of aggregate materials used.

 The quality and proportions of cement, aggregates.

 Water used for making the mixture.

 And on the Workmanship.

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The Composition is generally expressed in terms of relative volumes of:
* Cement.

* Fine aggregate (sand).

* And coarse aggregate (gravel etc.).

Thus a 1:2:4 concrete indicates a mix having 1 part by volume of cement, 2 parts of sand and 4 parts of
gravel or crushed aggregates.

In actual mixing, the relative volumes are converted to weights of respective materials.

Concrete Ingredients
Following are the ingredients of concrete.

1. Binding material (Cement or Lime).

2. Fine aggregate (Sand or such other materials).

3. Coarse aggregate (Gravel, Crushed stone or such other materials).

And Water.

4. Admixtures are classed as optional ingredients.

Different Types of Concrete.

1. Plain or Ordinary Concrete. 11. Lime concrete.

2. Lightweight Concrete. 12. Roller compacted concrete.

3. High-Density Concrete. 13. Stamped concrete.

4. Reinforced Concrete. 14. Pumped concrete.

5. Precast Concrete. 15. Vacuum concrete.

6. Prestressed Concrete. 16. Permeable concrete.

7. Air Entrained Concrete. 17. Shotcrete concrete.

8. Glass Concrete. 18. Ready-mix concrete.

9. Rapid hardening concrete. 19. Self-Consolidated concrete.

10. Asphalt concrete.

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Let’s see all one by one.

1. Plain or Ordinary Concrete.

It is one of the most commonly used types of concrete. In this type of concrete, the essential
constituents are cement, sand and coarse aggregates designed and mixed with a specified quantity of
water.

The ratio of essential constituents may be varied within wide limits. A very commonly used mix design,
commonly known as Nominal Mix Design is 1:2:4.

Plain concrete is mostly used in the construction of pavements and in buildings, where very high tensile
strength is not required. It is also used in the construction of Dams.

Among the most important properties of ordinary concrete, the following may be mentioned.

Density: 2200 – 2500 Kg/meter.cube.

Compressive Strength: 200 – 500 Kg/centimeter.square.

Tensile Strength: 50 – 100 Kg/centimeter.square.

Durability: Very Satisfactory.

2. Lightweight Concrete:
Any types of concrete having a density less than 1920 Kg/m3 is classed as lightweight concrete.

Various types of aggregates that are used in the manufacturing of lightweight concrete include natural
materials like pumice and scoria, artificial materials like expanded shales and clays and processed
materials like perlite and vermiculite.

The single important property of lightweight concrete is its very low thermal conductivity.

For example: Thermal conductivity – the k value, for plain concrete may be as high as 10-12. But the
thermal conductivity of Lightweight concrete is about 0.3.

Lightweight Concretes are used, depending upon their composition, for thermal insulation, for
protecting steel structures, they are also used in long span bridge decks, and even as building blocks.

Aerated Concrete is a variety of extremely lightweight concrete ( density 480-800 Kg/m3 ). This is
obtained by using cement, sand and powdered fuel ash as constituents.

3. High Density Concrete:

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This type of concrete is also called heavy weight concrete. In this concrete type, the density varies
between 3000-4000 Kg/m3.

These types of concrete are prepared by using high density crushed rocks as coarse aggregates. Among
such materials, Barytes is the most commonly used material, which has a specific gravity of 4.5.

They are mostly used in atomic power plants and other similar structures. Because it provides good
protection from all type of radiations.

4. Reinforced Concrete:
It is also called RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete). In this concrete type steel in various forms is used as
reinforcement to give very high tensile strength.

In fact, it is because of the combined action of plain concrete (having high compressive strength) and
steel (having high tensile strength).

The steel reinforcement is cast in the form of rods, bars, meshes and all conceivable shapes.

Every care is taken to ensure the maximum bond between the reinforcement and the concrete during
the setting and hardening process.

Thus, the resulting material (RCC) is capable of bearing all types of stress in any type of construction. The
RCC is the most important concrete type.

5. Precast Concrete:
This term refers to numerous types of concrete shapes that are cast into molds either in a factory or at
the site.

However, they are not used in construction until they completely set and hardened in a controlled
condition.

Some of the examples of Precast Concrete are; precast poles, fence posts, concrete lintels, staircase
units, concrete blocks, and cast stones, etc.

These structural and decorative members are prepared in a well-equipped place where all arrangements
are made for;

1. Perfect proportioning of the ingredients of concrete.

2. Thorough mixing of the cement, aggregates, and water to obtain the mix of the desired design and
consistency.

3. Careful handling during transport and placement in the perfect design molds.

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4. Perfect curing, under the controlled conditions of temperature and humidity. Even steam curing is
used to obtain precast products having high strength in much less time.

5. The latest trend in the construction industry is to shift more and more to prefabricated concrete units
in building construction.

6. Prestressed Concrete:
It is a special type of reinforced concrete in which the reinforcement bars are tensioned before being
embedded in the concrete.

Such tensioned wires are held firm at each end while the concrete mix is placed. The result is that when
concrete sets and hardens, the whole concrete members, so the cast is put into compression.

This sort of arrangement makes the lower section of the reinforced concrete also stronger against
tension, which is the principal cause of the development of tension cracks in un-tensioned reinforced
concrete.

Since pre-stressing involves the use of jacks and tensioning equipment, the pre-stressed concrete is also
cast in the factories.

Some of its advantages are the following.

1. The potential compressive strength of concrete gets considerably increased.

2. The risk of development of tension cracks in the lower sections of beams is considerably reduced.

3. The resistance to shear is greatly reduced. This eliminates the necessity of stirrups to a great extent.

4. Lighter members can be used than the un-tensioned (normal) reinforced-concrete.

5. The prestressed concrete is greatly favored in the construction of;

* Bridges.

* Long span Roofs.

* Most structures with the heavy dead load.

7. Air Entrained Concrete:

It is a specially prepared plain concrete in which air is entrained in the form of thousands of uniformly
distributed particles.

The Volume of air thus, entrained may range between 3-6 percent of the concrete.

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The air entrainment is achieved by adding a small quantity of foaming or gas-forming agents at the
mixing stage.

Fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and resins are some common air entraining agents.

Air entrained concrete is more resistant to;

 Scaling.

 Deterioration due to freezing and thawing.

* Abrasion.

8. Glass Concrete.
When the recycled glass is used as an aggregate in the concrete, this types of concrete is known as Glass
Concrete.

They provide better thermal insulation and also have a great appealing look as compared to other types.

9. Rapid Hardening Concrete.

This type of concrete is mostly used in under water construction and in repairing of roads. Because its
hardening time is very less. It can be hardened in just a few hours.

They are also used in building construction, where the work should be done fast.

10. Asphalt Concrete.

Asphalt concrete is a combination of aggregates and asphalt. It is also known as Asphalt. They are vastly
used in the highways, airports, as well as in the embankments.

They can be hardened in just an hour. That is the reason for its vast usage in roads.

11. Lime Concrete.

In this type of concrete, lime is used as a binding material with the aggregates. Before the invention of
cement, the mostly used concrete was lime concrete.

In today’s age, Lime concrete is also used in floors, domes, etc.

12. Roller Compacted Concrete.

This concrete is mostly used as a filling material. They don’t have a better strength value. They are lean
concrete and are compacted with the help of heavy means, like rollers.

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Very less amount of cement is used in this type of concrete.

13. Stamped Concrete.

They are ordinary concrete with some little differences and are mostly used for architectural purposes.

A stamp of different shape and design placed on the concrete structures when they are in their plastic
state to acquire an appealing look design.

Pigments are used for color purposes of different types to give it more realistic and appealing look.

14. Pumped Concrete.

Pumped concrete are used for high rise buildings. Where concrete conveyance other than the pump is
not an easy task almost an impossible task.

They are made workable enough for an easy conveyance. Fines material are used for better supply. The
more, the finer material the easy will be the discharge.

The pump used for conveyance purposes are made from rigid or flexible materials to discharge the
concrete easily.

15. Vacuum Concrete.

In this types, more quantity of water is added to the concrete mix, and then the mixture is poured into
the form work.

The excess water is then removed from the concrete with the help of a vacuum pump. That is why it is
called the vacuum concrete.

This technique is used to attain the strength of concrete early. It will attain the compressive strength
within the period of 10 days as compared to 28 days of ordinary concrete.

16. Permeable Concrete.

Permeable concrete is prepared in such a manner that the water can be passed in it. They have about 15
to 20 % voids so that the water can pass in it.

They are used in those areas where storm water issues persist.

17. Shotcrete.
Shotcrete is a concrete prepared in the same manner as ordinary, but the difference is that they are
placed differently.

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They are placed with the help of higher air pressure through nozzles. The benefit of this technique is
that the compaction and placing of concrete will be done simultaneously.

18. Ready Mix Concrete.

This concrete type is prepared in concrete plants and or transported by the help of truck mounted
transit mixtures.

Once they are reached at the site then, there is no further treatment necessary.

The plant location will be at an adjustable location so that the concrete can be supplied before the
setting time ca be started.

19. Self Consolidated Concrete.

These types of concrete are compacted by its own weight, mean by the process of consolidation. There
is no need of using a vibrator or doing manual compaction.

The workability of concrete is always high in this type. That is the reason it is also known as flowing
concrete.

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