CONCRETE

Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded

together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time.

Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water,[ and is the

most widely used building material. Its usage worldwide, ton for ton, is twice that

of steel, wood, plastics, and aluminum combined.  Globally, the ready-mix

concrete industry, the largest segment of the concrete market, is projected to

exceed $600 billion in revenue by 2025. This widespread use results in a number

of environmental impacts. Most notably, the production process for cement

produces large volumes of greenhouse gas emissions, leading to net 8% of global

emissions.  Other environmental concerns include widespread illegal sand mining,

impacts on the surrounding environment such as increased surface runoff or urban

heat island effect, and potential public health implications from toxic ingredients.

Significant research and development is being done to try to reduce the emissions

or make concrete a source of carbon sequestration, and increase recycled and

secondary raw materials content into the mix to achieve a circular economy.

Concrete is expected to be a key material for structures resilient to climate

disasters, as well as a solution to mitigate the pollution of other industries,

capturing wastes such as coal fly ash or bauxite tailings and residue.

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Concrete is a popular material for many construction applications, and it is widely
used because of its strength, durability, reflectivity, and versatility. These
properties make it a sturdy and long-lasting option for numerous domestic and
commercial settings.

So, what are the main benefits of concrete?

Strength

Concrete is renowned for its high strength. The degree of strength can be adapted

to meet the needs of a specific project by altering the water, cement and aggregate
ratio. Remarkably, concrete strengthens year by year – this is due to the cement
component’s ability to form bonds with surrounding moisture particles.

Durability

The unyielding nature of concrete makes it a durable, long-lasting material choice.

It resists erosion, fire, rotting, rusting, and weathering with relative ease, requiring
minimal maintenance and repair. Ergo, concrete boasts a lifespan that exceeds
many other types of building material.

Reflectivity

Concrete reflects heat as opposed to absorbing it, like asphalt. This beneficial heat-
reflecting ability helps to cool buildings, reducing the use of air conditioning
systems, and therefore saving energy. Expanding on this, concrete is also useful for
mitigating the effect of urban heat islands – these are defined as urban areas that
are warmer than rural areas due to humans altering the natural land surface. These
islands have negative environmental impact, as they force those dwelling and
working in heat islands to adjust their activities, often leading to the increased
emission of greenhouse gases.

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Versatility

Whatever the application, concrete has proven its value and flexibility time after
time. Its incredible versatility makes it useful for an array of uses, including: roads,
buildings, driveways, highways, pathways, garages, patios, and much more. Not
only that, it can also be mixed to generate varying degrees of strength, making it
useful for the largest highway to the smallest garden path. Additionally, concrete
can also be cut into varying shapes and sizes to allow for unlimited design
possibilities.

Environmental Benefits

Did you know that concrete boasts a number of environmental benefits? Sturdy
and robust, concrete can withstand natural disasters, avoiding the need to use
additional materials for repair. Concrete is often mixed from locally sourced
materials, and therefore requires minimal transport and resources to get it from A
to B. And at the end of its life, concrete can be recycled and reused, further
expanding its natural lifespan.

EasyMix Concrete offer a fast, flexible service to get your project off the ground.
Whatever concrete mix you require, we can create and deliver a final product that
meets the requirements of your project. Using our onsite mixing system, we
guarantee to provide only the exact amount you need – no more and no less. Get in
touch to arrange your same or next day delivery – we’re happy to offer friendly
advice.

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TYPES OF CONCRETE

1. Normal Strength Concrete

2. Plain or Ordinary Concrete

3. Reinforced Concrete

4. Prestressed Concrete

5. Precast Concrete

6. Light – Weight Concrete

7. High-Density Concrete

8. Air Entrained Concrete

9. Ready Mix Concrete

10.Polymer Concrete

SIZES OF CONCRETE

In many part of world, Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs) are manufactured in a

variety of sizes. But most common, nominal size of concrete block used is 4″, 6″,
8″, 10″ and 12″ CMU full/ half block. They are identified by their depth or by their
thickness of the wall they create. For instance, a 6″ CMU is nominally 6″ or
150mm deep while a 10″ CMU is nominally 10″ or 250mm deep.

Concrete blocks come in Full and half-sizes, their half size is also available which
are helpful in reducing the need to cut blocks in the field at corners or the end of
walls. The architect should always attempt to design buildings using the nominal

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dimensions to the nearest half-block size to reduce waste and labor due to cut
blocks.

Concrete block found in many shaped and size it may be solid or hollow, hollow
concrete block have void known as core to reduce the weight of concrete block.
Some hollow concrete block have two or three multiple Voids

PROPERTICE OF CONCRETE

1. Strength

Strength of concrete are of the following types:

a. Compressive strength

b. Tensile strength

c. Flexural strength

d. Shear strength

Compressive Strength

Two types of test specimens are used in Bangladesh -(1) Cube and (2) Cylinder.

The cube specimens of concrete of the desired proportion are cast in steel or cast
iron molds, normally 6-inch cube. The standard cylinder specimen of concrete is 6
inch in diameter and 12 inches in height and cast in a mold generally made of cast
iron;

Standard cubes and cylinders are tested at prescribed ages, generally, 28 days, with
additional tests often made at 1, 3, and 7 days. The specimens are tested for
crushing strength under a testing machine. The cube tests give much greater values
of crushing strength, usually 20 to 30 % more than those given by cylinders.

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According to British standard, the strength of a cylinder specimen is equal to three-
quarters of the strength of the cube specimen.

Tensile strength

Concrete is very weak in tension. The tensile strength of ordinary concrete ranges
from about 7 to 10 percent of the compressive strength.

Flexural strength

The flexural strength of plain concrete is almost wholly dependent upon the tensile
strength. However, experiments show that the modulus of rupture is considerably
greater than the strength in tension.

Shear strength

It is the real determining factor in the compressive strength of short columns. The
average strength of concrete in direct shear varies from about half of the
compressive strength for rich mixtures to about 0.8 of the compressive strength for
lean mixtures.

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Workability

The strength of concrete of a given mix proportion is very seriously affected by the
degree of its compaction. It is therefore vital that the consistency of the mix be
such that the concrete can be transported, placed and finished sufficiently easily
and without segregation. A concrete satisfying these conditions is said to be
workable.

Factors affecting the workability of concrete are:

Water Content

Mix Proportions

Size of Aggregates

Shape of Aggregates

Grading of Aggregates

Surface Texture of Aggregates

Use of Admixtures

Use of Supplementary Cementitious Materials

Time

Temperature

Usually, Slump test is done to indirectly determine the workability of a concrete

mix.

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Elastic Properties

Concrete is not perfectly elastic for any range of loading, an appreciable permanent
setting taking place for even low loads. The deformation is not proportional to the
stress at any stage of loading. The elastic properties of concrete vary with the
richness of the mixture and with the intensity of the stress. They also vary with the
age of concrete.

Durability

Durability is the property of concrete to withstand the condition for which it has
been designed, without deterioration over a period of years. Lack of durability can
be caused by external agents arising from the environment or by internal agents
within the concrete.

Causes can be categorized as physical, mechanical and chemical.

Impermeability

Penetration of concrete by materials in solution may adversely affect its durability,

for instance, when Ca(OH)2 is being leached out or an attack by aggressive liquids
(acids) takes place. Permeability has an important bearing on the vulnerability of
concrete to water and frost. In the case of reinforced cement concrete, the
penetration of moisture and air will result in the corrosion of steel. This leads to an
increase in the volume of the steel, resulting in cracking and spalling of the
concrete. Permeability of concrete is also of importance for liquid retaining and
hydraulic structures;

Segregation

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The tendency of separation of coarse aggregate grains from the concrete mass is
called segregation. It increases when the concrete mixture is lean and too wet. It
also increases when rather large and rough-textured aggregate is used. The
phenomenon of segregation can be avoided as follows.

i. Addition of little air-entraining agents in the mix.

ii. Restricting the amount of water to the smallest possible amount.

iii. All the operations like handling, placing and consolidation must be carefully
conducted.

iv. Concrete should not be allowed to fall from large heights.

Bleeding

The tendency of water to rise to the surface of freshly laid concrete is known
as bleeding. The water rising to the surface carries with it, particles of sand and
cement, which on hardening form a scum layer is popularly known as laitance.
Concrete bleeding can be checked by adopting the following measures.

i. By adding more cement

ii. By using more finely ground cement

iii. By properly designing the mix and using the minimum quantity of water

iv. By using little air entraining agent

v. By increasing the finer part of fine aggregate

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TEXTURE OF A CONCRETE

Textured concrete finishes range from simple to elaborate and affordable to

expensive. Some are easy to create, while others require special skills. Certain
concrete textures serve functional purposes, while others are highly decorative.
Read on to decide which option is best for you.

 Stamped concrete

Stamped concrete, commonly referred to as textured or imprinted concrete, is a

type of concrete finish designed to resemble brick, natural stone such as slate or
flagstone, tile and even wood. Color hardener is a popular way of coloring concrete
that accentuates the stamped pattern.

 Stenciled concrete

Stenciling concrete can be a great alternative to decorative stamping while

permitting similar design flexibility. Stencils are typically used in conjunction with
staining concrete or resurfacing. Concrete engraving can also be used to create
similar effects.

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  Exposed aggregate

An exposed aggregate surface is obtained by placing concrete and then removing

the top layer of cement paste to uncover coarse decorative aggregate. The most
popular decorative aggregates are richly colored natural stones such as basalts,
granite, quartz, or limestone. But you can also use materials such as recycled
colored glass or seashells and other interesting objects seeded into the surface of
the concrete.

USES OF CONCRETE

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  Pavements.

 architectural structures.

 foundations.

 motorways.

 roads and bridges.

 overpasses.

 parking structures.

 walls and footings for gates.

THICKNESS OF CONCRETE

On average, commercial concrete slabs are at least 6 inches thick for parking lots
and structures. Many concrete slabs are poured thicker at the edges so while the
bulk of a commercial concrete pour can average 6 inches, the outside, aka aprons,
might plunge down to 8 to 10 inches.

Advantages of Concrete

 Ingredients of concrete are easily available in most of the places.

 Unlike natural stones, concrete is free from defects and flaws.

 Concrete can be manufactured to the desired strength with an economy.

 The durability of concrete is very high.

 It can be cast to any desired shape.

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  The casting of concrete can be done in the working site which makes it
economical.

 The maintenance cost of concrete is almost negligible.

 The deterioration of concrete is not appreciable with age.

 Concrete makes a building fire-safe due to its noncombustible nature.

 Concrete can withstand high temperatures.

 Concrete is resistant to wind and water. Therefore, it is very useful in storm

shelters.

 As a soundproofing material cinder concrete could be used.

Disadvantages of Concrete

 Compared to other binding materials, the tensile strength of concrete is

relatively low.

 Concrete is less ductile.

 The weight of compared is high compared to its strength.

 Concrete may contains soluble salts. Soluble salts cause efflorescence.

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 REFERENCE

Asphalt concrete cores for embankment dams". International Water Power and
Dam Construction. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 3
April 2011.

Crow, James Mitchell (March 2008). "The concrete conundrum" (PDF). Chemistry

World: 62–66.

 Gagg, Colin R. (1 May 2014). "Cement and concrete as an engineering material:

An historic appraisal and case study analysis". Engineering Failure
Analysis. 40: 114–140.

The Roman Pantheon: The Triumph of Concrete Archived 6 October 2014 at

the Wayback Machine. Romanconcrete.com. Retrieved 19 February 2013.

What is the development impact of concrete?". Cement Trust. 24 October

2010. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 10
January 2013.

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