What Is An Admixture in Construction? An admixture is a substance added to concrete or mortar to modify its properties. These modifications can improve the suitability of the material for a specific purpose, reduce production costs, or conserve energy. Admixtures can be either natural or manufactured chemicals that are added to the mixture during mixing. […]
What Is the Compressive Strength Of Concrete? The compressive strength of concrete is a measure of how well it can withstand being compressed or subjected to pressure. It is determined by testing cylindrical samples of the concrete in a machine that applies pressure until the concrete crushes or fails. The compressive strength is calculated by […]
What Is Expanded Clay Aggregate? Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate, also known as expanded clay or exclay, is a lightweight construction material that is made by heating clay to high temperatures in a rotary kiln. As the clay is heated, gases are released and create small bubbles within the clay, resulting in a honeycomb-like structure. LECA […]
What Is Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC)? Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) is a type of concrete that is reinforced with glass fibers. It is also known as glassfiber reinforced concrete or GRC in British English. GFRC is primarily used in exterior building facade panels and as architectural precast concrete. It is similar to materials […]
What Is Carbonation in Concrete? Carbonation is the process in which carbon dioxide in the air reacts with the calcium hydroxide in concrete to create calcium carbonate, which can lower the pH of the concrete to around 9. This can cause the protective oxide layer around reinforcing steel to break down, potentially leading to corrosion. […]
What Is Pervious Concrete in Construction? Pervious concrete is a porous type of concrete that is used in flatwork applications and is designed to allow water to pass through it, reducing runoff and allowing for groundwater recharge. It is made by using large aggregates with minimal fine aggregates, and the concrete paste coats the aggregates, […]
What Is A Concrete Placing Boom? A concrete placing boom is a mobile, truck-mounted machine with a powered, flexible arm (called a knuckle boom) that can rotate and lift to place concrete through a pipeline attached to or incorporated into the arm. It is used to pump concrete to the desired location during construction. Placing […]
What Is The Difference Between Creep And Shrinkage? What is Creeping in Concrete? Creep in concrete refers to the deformation of concrete under a sustained load over time. It is a phenomenon that occurs in all concrete structures, although the amount of creep can vary depending on the type of concrete and the conditions to […]
What Is Pre Tensioning Concrete? Pre-tensioning concrete involves using tendons or cables as reinforcement in concrete construction. These tendons are stretched and anchored within formwork before the concrete is poured. After the concrete has hardened and reached a sufficient strength, the tendons are released, causing them to contract and transfer their stored energy to the […]
What Is Post Tensioning Concrete? Post-tensioning concrete is a technique of reinforcing concrete structures with high-strength steel strands or bars, typically referred to as tendons. The tendons are tensioned after the concrete has been cast and allowed to harden. The tendons are usually arranged in a predetermined pattern and tensioned using jacks. The tensioning of […]