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Concrete

Concrete has been used in construction for over 2,000 years, first by the Romans in their
aqueducts and roadways. The Romans used a primitive mix for their concrete. Mortar consisted of small
gravel and coarse sand mixed together with hot lime and water to create enduring concrete structures,
such as the Pantheon, that are still standing today.

Cement has been around for at least 12 million years. When the earth itself was undergoing
intense geologic changes natural, cement was being created. It was this natural cement that humans first
put to use. They discovered how to make cement from other materials. A material similar to concrete was
first developed by the Egyptians, consisting of lime and gypsum. Lime, chalk or oyster shells continued
being used as the cement forming agent until the early 1800s. In 1824, Portland cement, a mixture of
limestone and clay was burned and ground, this has remained the predominant cementing agent used in
concrete production.
Materials of concrete :

Portland cements

Sands

Aggregates

Water
Concrete is a composite materials consists of Portland cements, water, sands and aggregates.
These materials are mixed together to form a workable paste. The paste composed of Portland cement and
water, coats the surface of fine and coarse aggregates. The paste hardens and gains strength to form the
concrete through a chemical reaction called hydration. Admixtures are chemicals added to the concrete
mix to control its setting properties and are used when placing concrete during environmental extremes
such as high or low temperatures and windy conditions. Admixtures also accelerate or slow down the rate
at which the concrete hardens.

Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials. Concrete is used in many forms of
construction. Concrete is often used in buildings, bridges, roads, walls and dams. Its uses range from
structural applications such as paving and curb and gutter applications. Filling pre-made molds with
concrete used to produce a variety of items such as drainage piping. Large warehouses with a large flat
floor and wall sections use what is called Tilt-up concrete construction.

There are few properties of concrete. Concrete is good in compression but poor in tension. The
tensile strength is about 1/10 of the compressive strength. Different mixes of concrete ingredients produce
different strengths. Concrete strength values are usually specified as the compressive strength.

Besides, concrete is made with low water/cement ratio is very well compacted and is of low
permeability. Admixtures can reduce its permeability. The chemical resistance of ordinary Portland
cement can be increased by using special cements and aggregates. Concrete shrinks when it dries and
expands when it is wetted. Moisture movement occurs on each subsequent wetting and drying as water is
admitted too and removed from the concrete. Moisture movement increase when water/cement ratio of a
mix increases.

Other than that, concrete has also low frost resistance. Concrete may be damaged by expansion of
ice crystal especially in capillary pores or cracks. The resistance of concrete to abrasion depends on the
hardness of the aggregate particles and the ability of the mortar matrix to retain them. The resistance of
concrete to fire is higher temperatures will cause loss of strength. The coefficient of thermal expansion of
concrete varies from 6 to 13 × 10−6 𝐾 −1 according to mix proportions, type of aggregate and curing
conditions.

Steel reinforcement is commonly applied to sustain the tensile load acting on concrete, because it
is good in tensile resistance and it gives ductile failure. Reinforced concrete is a familiar application of
concrete and steel. The ribs on steel reinforcement interlock with concrete to form a good bond between
them. The impermeability property of concrete provides protection against corrosion of the reinforcing
steel.
Concrete has its own benefits. Concrete outperforms wood as a construction material, it has long
life and would not burden building owners with constant repair and maintenance costs. Concrete is
versatile, long-lasting and durable, cost-effective, sustainable choice for both residential and commercial
buildings. It is non-combustible. Concrete is strong in compression. Before it is hardens, it is a very
pliable substance that can easily be shaped.

Concrete is one of the most important building products. We use it for house slabs, driveways,
paving and much more. Without it, building costs would be much higher, because concrete is in plentiful
supply and is relatively easy to work with, enabling concreters to cover large areas in a short amount of
time. There are many factors involved in pricing concrete. Some of these factors include the grading,
subbase preparation, concrete forms and finishing, reinforcement, and the cost of concrete.

Concrete stairs come in handy for a variety of building projects, but typically this type of step is
used for industrial and commercial buildings. Cement stairs can either be installed inside or outside, and
concrete stair construction is solid enough that these steps to last many years with little to no maintenance.
The pricing and costs of concrete stairs varies depending on the type and size of cement stair.

Concrete is a common choice for exterior stairs, seeing use in both residential and commercial
structures. Though it needs sealing every year, concrete is a very durable material and is appropriate for
stairs that will see heavy use and are exposed to the weather.

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