From the sidewalks we use to the underpinnings of our houses, concrete is all around us. Although we frequently take it for granted, this material is crucial to contemporary building. Gaining knowledge about concrete’s composition and properties can help us appreciate this fundamental building material on a deeper level.
Concrete is essentially just a combination of cement, water, and aggregates such as crushed stone, gravel, or sand. These components come together to create a paste that becomes stronger and more resilient over time. However, concrete is more complex than simply combining a few ingredients.
The ratios of the components, the kind of cement utilized, and the conditions of mixing and curing can all affect the characteristics of concrete. Because it can be customized to meet the unique requirements of various projects, concrete’s versatility makes it an extremely valuable material in the construction industry.
Modern construction is built on concrete, but what is it exactly and how does it function? This article deconstructs concrete, describing its constituent parts, manufacturing process, and the reasons it’s such a resilient and adaptable building material. We’ll go over the fundamentals in plain language so you can comprehend the main characteristics that make concrete so important to construction.
- Concrete science
- BST concrete mix
- BSG mix
- BSM mixture
- Application area
- Video on the topic
- Laboratory work. Selection of the composition of heavy concrete
- Poor quality concrete. How to check? What to do if you were deceived?
- Blain"s device APB-Ts I Blaine"s device | Evaluation of the fineness of cement grinding
- Hydraulic press versus 1000 sheets of paper!
- Advice when processing a hexagon on a CNC.
Concrete science
Concrete is an artificial stone material that is created by properly compacting and preparing a concrete mixture that has been carefully chosen. A binder (cement), small and large fillers (sand, gravel, crushed stone, etc.), plasticizers (special additives to change the monolith’s characteristics), and water are always included in the mixture.
A concrete mixture is a homogeneous, ready-to-use mixture. This indicates that all the necessary ingredients have already been added in the right amounts and blended in accordance with the technology; the solution can now be used for the intended purpose. Concrete is created by pouring, compacting, setting, and hardening the mixture.
For standard mixtures, the entire cycle of strength gain and fundamental technical characteristics takes 28 days; however, this duration can be modified by adding additives to the mixture.
- BST – heavy type (stands for "heavy concrete mix")
- BSM – sand concrete (stands for "fine-grained concrete mix")
- BSL – light type ("light concrete mix")
- BSG – "ready-made concrete mix", refers to all types of solutions that are supplied in a prepared form
BST concrete mix
BST concrete, whose decoding is provided above, is a mixture that typically includes heavy fillers like gravel and crushed stone. Concrete has a density that ranges from 1800 to 2500 kg/m3. The material’s technical properties can vary and are directly influenced by the features, composition, and ratios of the small and large fillers.
Craftsmen consider factors such as expected loads, operating conditions, specifications for the completed structure, etc. when selecting a concrete mix recipe. At the design stage, all of this is taken into account and indicated.
The grades and strength classes of heavy mixes vary, and they can exhibit distinct markers of workability, resistance to moisture and frost, and so on.
BSG mix
Any mix that is ready for use can be called BSG concrete. This category includes all ready-made solutions that are mixed with water rather than being provided as a dry mixture. Usually, they are ordered at the plant, where the mixture is technologically prepared before being loaded onto a concrete mixer truck and transported to the job site.
Since the mixture has a very short shelf life—two hours at most—and it starts to set, making it unfit for work, the master’s job is to use it quickly—within an hour or two. Both in Moscow and the surrounding areas, there is now the chance to obtain the necessary amount of concrete mortar in the allotted time.
BSM mixture
Sand concrete, also known as heavy concrete, is a fine-grained mixture. The primary characteristic of BSM is the total lack of coarse filler (gravel, crushed stone, etc.). Sand with a fraction of 0.6 to 5 millimeters is added to the mixture at the same time as a fine filler. High-grade cement with a high alite content serves as the binder, ensuring maximum density.
Typically, cement and filler are used in a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio; however, occasionally, the addition of plasticizers to the composition can lower the binder consumption to a 1:4 ratio.
Application area
Everywhere you look, you can find heavy-duty concrete (HDC): it’s used to build all kinds of buildings, industrial facilities, hydraulic structures, repair jobs, pouring structural elements, and laying road surfaces. Concrete mortar is regarded as a universal building material because it can have a wide range of qualities and characteristics depending on the parts and proportions.
Paving slabs, road surface installation, and the construction of thin-walled buildings are all accomplished with fine-grained concrete mixtures. This kind of mortar is typically used for masonry, plastering, and facing projects. Rough screeding is a common task.
When producing reinforced products, where a large-fraction filler just cannot pass between steel rods, HCC is also important. The mixture is used to fill various types of construction joints and repair cracks because of the material’s high mobility.
Because of the components or foaming agents added to the composition, BSL is a relatively new material with a lower weight. High-quality lightweight concrete structures have excellent sound and heat insulation capabilities. It is possible to lessen the building’s overall weight and the load on the foundation during construction, which is crucial for the building of both single-family homes and multi-story structures.
Term | Explanation |
Cement | The binder that holds concrete together when mixed with water. |
Aggregate | Small stones or gravel that add bulk to concrete and improve its strength. |
Water | Activates the cement and helps the mix flow. |
Admixture | Chemicals added to improve concrete"s performance, like speeding up or slowing down drying. |
Rebar | Steel bars placed in concrete to add extra strength and prevent cracking. |
Slump | A test that measures the consistency or thickness of wet concrete. |
Curing | The process of keeping concrete moist to reach its full strength over time. |
Formwork | Temporary molds that shape the concrete as it sets. |
Concrete is the cornerstone of contemporary construction and more than just a building material. No matter how big or small your project is, you can make better decisions if you understand its composition, types, and uses.
Understanding the fundamentals of concrete will help you make sure that your constructions are long-lasting, sturdy, and built to last. Having this knowledge also gives you the ability to select the ideal mixture for particular applications, which improves outcomes.
As you delve deeper into the world of concrete, keep in mind that optimal results depend on using the correct mix and handling techniques. With this knowledge, you’re ready to confidently take on any task involving concrete.