Modern concrete is a paste of Portland cement and water that binds small rocks together. It degrades in decades, especially in harsh marine environments. In contrast, Roman concrete used a mixture of volcanic ash and lime to bond rock fragments. The manufacture of concrete is quite simple.
First, cement is prepared (usually Portland cement). Then, the other added ingredients (such as sand or gravel), additives (chemical additives), any necessary fibers and water are mixed with the cement to form the concrete. Afterward, the concrete is sent to the work site and laid, compacted and cured. The concrete is made of quicklime or calcium oxide and volcanic ash.
When seawater enters its cracks, it causes a chemical reaction that actually strengthens the concrete. Minerals called al-Tobermorite and Philipsite are formed as the material leaches a mineral-rich fluid that then solidifies, reinforcing concrete and further strengthening structures. The experience in construction with reinforced concrete finally allowed the development of a new way of building with concrete; the thin-layer technique involves building structures, such as roofs, with a relatively thin concrete screed. Engineers at the Bureau of Reclamation calculated that if concrete were placed in a single monolithic pour, it would take 125 years for the dam to cool, and the stresses of the heat produced and shrinkage that occurs as the concrete cures would cause the structure to crack and crumble.
To avoid this issue, they developed ingenious tricks such as making their structures massive by placing heavy things on top of them. This allows the concrete to remain workable with a much lower water content, avoiding dilution of the cement so that the concrete can cure much stronger. Air entrainment is also used to create a lot of air bubbles that are extremely small and are very close, and most of them remain in hardened concrete. For slabs, concrete is allowed to stand until the moisture film on the surface disappears, then a manual wooden or metal float is used to smooth the surface.
Afterward, reinforced concrete was invented in the late 19th century. In addition, several expert systems have been developed to design concrete mixes and diagnose the causes of concrete deterioration. The quality control tables are widely used by ready-mix concrete suppliers and by on-site engineers to continuously evaluate the strength of concrete. This ensures that all components are correctly mixed in order to produce high-quality concrete for any construction project.
Leave Message