23 Types of Concrete Used in Construction and Their Applications XXX
23 Types of Concrete Used in Construction and Their Applications XXX
Different types of concrete are produced based on the constituent material, mix design, the method of construction, area of application,
form of hydration reaction. Details of these various types of concrete, their properties and applications are discussed.
Properties and uses of different types of concrete mentioned above are explained briefly:
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9/9/2018 23 Types of Concrete Used in Construction and their Applications
2. Plain Concrete
The plain concrete will have no reinforcement in it. The main constituents are the cement, aggregates, and water. Most commonly used
mix design is 1:2:4 which is the normal mix design.
The density of the plain concrete will vary between 2200 and 2500 Kg/meter cube. The compressive strength is 200 to 500 kg/cm2.
These types of concrete are mainly used in the construction of the pavements and the buildings, especially in areas where there is less
demand of high tensile strength. The durability given by these type of concrete is satisfactory to high extent.
3. Reinforced Concrete
The reinforced cement concrete is defined as the concrete to which reinforcement is introduced to bear the tensile strength. Plain
concrete is weak in tension and good in compression.
Hence the placement of reinforcement will take up the responsibility of bearing the tensile stresses. R.C.C works with the combined
action of the plain concrete and the reinforcement.
The steel reinforcement used in the concrete can be in the form of rods, bars or in the form of meshes. Now fibers are also developed as
reinforcement.
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9/9/2018 23 Types of Concrete Used in Construction and their Applications
Fiber reinforced concrete are concrete that use fibers (steel fibers) as reinforcement for the concrete. Use of meshes in concrete will give
ferrocement.
Whatever be the type of reinforcement used in concrete, it is very necessary to ensure proper bond between the concrete and the
reinforcement. This bond will control the strength and the durability factors of the concrete.
Also Read: Why Select Reinforced Concrete as Construction Material for a Structure?
4. Prestressed Concrete
Most of the mega concrete projects are carried out through prestressed concrete units. This is a special technique in which the bars or
the tendons used in the concrete is stressed before the actual service load application.
During the mixing and the placing of the concrete, these tensioned bars placed firmly and held from each end of the structural unit.
Once the concrete sets and harden, the structural unit will be put in compression.
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This phenomenon of prestressing will make the lower section of the concrete member to be stronger against the tension.
The process of prestressing will require heavy equipment and labor skill (jacks and equipment for tensioning). Hence the prestressing
units are made at site and assembled at site. These are used in the application of bridges, heavy loaded structures, and roof with longer
spans.
5. Precast Concrete
Various structural elements can be made and cast in the factory as per the specifications and bought to the site at the time of assembly.
Such concrete units are called as the precast concrete.
The examples of precast concrete units are concrete blocks, the staircase units, precast walls and poles, concrete lintels and many other
elements. These units have the advantage of acquiring speedy construction as only assemblage is necessary. As the manufacturing is
done at site, quality is assured. The only precaution taken is for their transportation.
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9/9/2018 23 Types of Concrete Used in Construction and their Applications
6. Lightweight Concrete
Concrete that have a density lesser than 1920kg/m3 will be categorized as lightweight concrete. The use of lightweight aggregates in
concrete design will give us lightweight aggregates.
Aggregates are the important element that contributes to the density of the concrete. The examples of light weight aggregates are the
pumice, perlites, and scoria.
The light weight concrete is applied for the protection of the steel structures and are also used for the construction of the long span
bridge decks. These are also used for the construction of the building blocks.
7. High-Density Concrete
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The concretes that have densities ranging between 3000 to 4000 kg/m3 can be called as the heavyweight concrete. Here heavy weight
aggregates are used.
The crushed rocks are used as the coarse aggregates. The most commonly used heavy weight aggregates is Barytes.
These types of aggregates are most commonly used in the construction of atomic power plants and for similar projects. The heavy
weight aggregate will help the structure to resist all possible type of radiations.
The ready-mix concrete is very precise and specialty concrete can be developed based on the specification with utmost quality.
The manufacture of these concrete will require a centralized mixing plant. These plants will be located at an adjustable distance from the
construction site. If the transportation is too long then it will result in setting of concrete. Such issues of time delay are cope up with the
use retarding agents that delays the setting.
Read More: Ready Mix Concrete Batching, Mixing, Transporting, and Handling
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9/9/2018 23 Types of Concrete Used in Construction and their Applications
Hence the aggregates are graded and mixed accordingly to achieve minimum voids hence maximum density.
Also Read: Polymer Impregnated Concrete -Applications and Properties of Polymers in Concrete
The calcium hydroxide crystals that are the major concern product during hydration for the strength properties is reduced by the
incorporation of silica fume.
In terms of performance, the high strength concrete ought to be less performing in terms of workability which is an issue.
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Also Read: High Strength and High-Performance Concrete Materials and Difference
This mix has a higher workability. The slump value will be between 650 and 750.
This concrete due to its higher workability is also called as flowing concrete. The areas where there is thick reinforcement, self –
consolidating concrete works best.
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Pervious or permeable concrete are concrete that are designed such a way that it allows the water to pass through it. These types of
concrete will have 15 to 20% voids of the volume of the concrete when they are designed.
The pervious concrete is created by unique mixing process, performance, application methods etc. These are used in the construction of
pavements and driveways where storm water issues persist. The storm water will pass through these pervious concrete pavements and
reach the groundwater. Hence most of the drainage issues is solved.
Hence the concrete structure or the platform will be ready to use earlier when compared with normal construction technique.
These concretes will attain their 28 days compressive strength within a period of 10 days and the crushing strength of these structure is
25 % greater compared with the conventional concrete types.
The concrete that is used for pumping must be of adequate workability so that it is easily conveyed through the pipe. The pipe used will
be rigid or a flexible hose that will discharge the concrete to the desired area.
The concrete used must be fluid in nature with enough fine material as well as water to fill up the voids. The more the finer material
used, greater will be control achieved on the mix. The grading of the coarse aggregate used must be continuous in nature.
Also Read: What is Pumped Concrete? Types of Concrete Pumps and Selection
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Different coloring stains and texture work will finally give a finish that is very similar to costlier natural stones. A high aesthetic look can
be obtained from a stamped finish economically. This is used in the construction of driveways, interior floors, and patios.
Also Read: What is Stamped Concrete? Features, Methods and Procedures of Stamping Concrete
19. Limecrete
This is a concrete type in which the cement is replaced by lime. The main application of this product is in floors, domes as well as vaults.
These unlike cements have many environmental and health benefits. These products are renewable and easily cleaned.
These concretes have cement content in lesser amount and filled for the area necessary. After compaction, these concretes provide high
density and finally cures into a strong monolithic block.
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9/9/2018 23 Types of Concrete Used in Construction and their Applications
Read More: Concrete – Definition, Grades, Components, Manufacture, Construction and Articles
Gopal Mishra
https://theconstructor.org/
Gopal Mishra is a Civil Engineer from NIT Calicut and has more than 9 years of experience in Civil Engineering and Construction. He is the founder of The
Constructor.
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