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5/11/2017 22 Comments

The Science of Concrete: What Makes This Building Material So Unique?

By Cathy Habas

Concrete is a ubiquitous building material that has been in use for thousands of years. The mega structures of our modern world, including skyscrapers, dams and underground tunnels, would not be feasible on such a large scale without a cheap, easy to use, low-maintenance and durable building material.
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Humble concrete is the only substance that comes close to satisfying these parameters. What makes this deceptively simple material so useful? Let’s take a look:
  1. Concrete does not compress despite bearing heavy loads. It remains rigid and stable, assuming the concrete is set at the correct density for the weight it is expected to carry. The ability of concrete to support heavy weight allows it to hold the enormous pressure of water at sites like the Hoover Dam, to support the weight of skyscrapers and towers, and to ferry thousands of cars and trucks across bridges every day. When combined with steel and special aggregates, the overall strength and utility of concrete is second to none.
  2. Concrete is pliable, but at only one point in time. Concrete is easy to install because it is initially in a fluid slurry form, allowing construction crews to transport it in batches, to pour it and spread it into any shape, to easily integrate steel reinforcements within the concrete, and to even customize its color and texture. Once the concrete dries, it never reverts to its slurry state, resulting instead in a solid structure like no other. But without that initial liquid, pliable state, construction would likely consist of placing stones on top of stones, a logistical nightmare for tall or complex structures. Think about the awe-inspiring craftsmanship of the Egyptian pyramids or the Roman aqueduct. Concrete erases the need for such time-consuming labor.
  3. The characteristics of concrete can be modified by adding additional materials. The basic properties of concrete remain the same, but it can be used for innumerable purposes thanks to the addition of “admixtures.” Common admixtures include fly ash, calcined shale, calcined clay, silica fume, and slag. These admixtures can make concrete more pliable without requiring additional water and thus potentially altering the drying time and core stability. They can also make concrete easier to work with in adverse weather conditions, or they can simply make concrete more resistant to erosion based on its environmental placement. Concrete that is constantly submerged in ocean water, for example, benefits from some added protections. Engineers are often trained in concrete mix design in order to choose the best admixtures for their projects.
How Does Concrete Work?

Concrete is composed of limestone (CaCO3) and clay (specifically, silicon from the clay: SiO2). When heated to a temperature of 1450 degrees Celsius, calcium silicates (C3S and C2S) are formed. These compounds react with water in a process called hydration to form crystals that bind together and glue the other two components of concrete (sand and larger rocks called aggregates) together into a solid, dense structure.

Concrete Has Been Around for Thousands of Years But Continues to Be Developed

The use of concrete can be traced back to around 10,000 years. Thanks to modern technology, it continues to be developed and improved, and new uses for concrete are found all the time. For example, concrete serves as an effective shield against nuclear radiation, and biologists at Delft University of Technology have even discovered a way to use bacteria to automatically repair cracks in concrete structures.

In short, concrete can be considered one of the most important inventions for modern humans, allowing industrialization and urbanization to progress. Its unique properties, combined with the clever curiosity of the scientists who study it, have made it suitable for an astounding number of projects. It’s easy to take concrete for granted because it is absolutely everywhere. and yet society as we know it surely wouldn’t exist without it.
 
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About the Author
Cathy Habas is a Louisville-based freelance writer specializing in fashion, health and home improvement. She received her Bachelor of Art's degree from Indiana University Southeast in 2014 and has been writing professionally ever since. In her spare time, Cathy loves to spend time outdoors with her posse of dogs when the weather's nice.





Comments? Leave them below!

22 Comments
civil engineer link
11/23/2018 01:48:23 am

It’s great to learn about the benefits of concrete.Reading to your blog I got to learn more about the concrete.Keep sharing your Knowledge with us. You have wriiten amazing article and it is very beneficial for the students.

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Michaela Hemsley link
8/23/2019 03:04:00 pm

I like that you said that when combined with steel and special aggregates, the overall strength and utility of concrete is second to none. My husband and I are going to have a house built and we are trying to decide on the right type of foundation for our home so that we can start off the right way. I think that a concrete foundation would be smart because it could last a long time and be strong enough that we wouldn't have to worry about needing to redo it anytime soon which would be nice.

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David Johnson link
10/31/2019 04:29:53 pm

That's great to learn concrete doesn't compress under heavy loads. There've been some problems with the outside of my house. I'm going to have to look into concrete services.

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Henry Killingsworth link
12/6/2019 04:26:34 pm

Thank you for helping me to understand that concrete makes a good construction material because it stays stable and rigid under heavy weight loads. I would imagine that this would be very useful for constructing large buildings that include multiple levels. It would be interesting to learn more about how commercial contractors utilize concrete in construction.

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David Johnson link
12/17/2019 01:12:56 pm

That's awesome that concrete can support heavy weight, which makes it great for buildings or containing water. My brother is looking at building some benches for a park the city is making. We'll have to look into concrete street furniture.

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Eileen Benson link
1/16/2020 11:52:58 am

It was interesting when you talked about how concrete achieves its dense structure by binding together its components through hydration. Now that I think about it, it makes sense that concrete is used so widely for foundations and base slabs in both residential and commercial applications. Thanks for sharing this interesting info about the history and uses of concrete!

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Charles Sulivan
1/23/2020 05:26:24 am

The in-compressible nature of <a href="https://www.concretecontractors.org/" >concrete material</a> despite load at hand makes it more unique.

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Access Doors and Panels link
4/24/2020 05:42:24 am

Good article with an excellent way of presentation. Keep it up. Thanks for sharing.


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Greeley Concrete Contractors link
7/29/2020 08:41:32 pm

Cheap, versatile, reliable and perhaps most importantly - unlimited! We can feel good using concrete in our projects knowing that we're not taking from the supply of a vanishing resource. It's an efficient way to meet the demands of urbanization and a reliable way to add some appeal to your property in many shapes in sizes. We're contractors, so we're biased, but it's awesome to see somebody else that's of a similar mind! Thanks a lot for sharing.

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Johnson link
1/17/2021 02:21:17 am

Nice article. I am starting to make concrete products here in Kenya. Looking for such articles to reinforce my knowledge of such products as cabros, paving blocks, concrete posts, etc.

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Adam Golightly link
2/10/2021 03:55:34 pm

I can see how a business could really benefit from getting the right materials to build their building. Making sure that they can get their supplies from a professional could allow them to be a lot safer. It was interesting to learn about how concrete is in a fluid slurry form, and it can be transported safely in order to be easier to install.

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Prasad link
5/10/2021 08:02:06 am

Nice article, well described about the concrete & its characteristics. Thank you for sharing this article!

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Eve Mitchell link
5/26/2021 11:43:35 am

I love that you mentioned that concrete can bear heavy loads without a problem. My city is building a new concrete office building. it looks so cool and industrial!

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Mia Evans link
6/10/2021 11:29:49 pm

I like that you pointed out that concrete remains stable which can ensure that it can withstand heavy weight. With that in mind, I will make sure that the foundation of our property will be made from concrete. It would be perfect for our future home which we plan to have four floors.

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zubair link
7/31/2021 09:38:31 pm

This is an interesting article and the writer have collected a unique data
The article is generally well written and structured.

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Adam Golightly link
8/26/2021 02:08:01 pm

I can see how a business could really benefit from getting the right kind of concrete. Getting some help from a professional could allow them to be more effective. It was interesting to learn about how concrete can continue to be developed even though it has been around for thousands of years.

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Taylor Hicken link
9/28/2021 11:29:33 am

I liked it when you shared that it is important not to take concrete for granted since it is useful for an astounding number of projects. It can bind together into a solid, dense structure that is suitable for a lot of structures. I would like to think if a company is looking for concrete mixes, it should consider getting high-quality ones from a reliable supplier.

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Brisbane mini concrete link
10/3/2021 04:23:14 am

Moisture and humidity can damage other construction materials except concrete due to rust or rot. Other elements such as moulds and termites will not have an adverse effect on concrete.

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Eli Richardson link
10/12/2021 12:38:34 pm

It's great that you talked about concrete and what makes it such excellent building material. Recently, my uncle said he's interested in investing in a construction project. My uncle wants to know more about building materials, so he'll choose the right one, and your article will definitely provide key insight to him. Thanks for the information on concrete and how it's super easy to use.

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Construction Alberta link
11/22/2021 07:48:36 am

Concrete lasts decades longer than alternative building materials, and actually gets stronger over time. This reduces the total cost of ownership as well as the environmental impact associated with more frequent rehabilitation or reconstruction.

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Hire A Handyman In Hattiesburg link
12/23/2021 02:07:30 pm

Concrete that is constantly submerged in ocean water, for example, benefits from some added protections. Thank you

Reply
Privacy Fence link
1/9/2022 11:56:03 am

To easily integrate steel reinforcements within the concrete, and to even customize its color and texture. I truly appreciate your great post!

Reply

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