Term: Types of concrete
Types of Concrete Mixes
– Mix design depends on project requirements, strength, appearance, and local regulations.
– Factors considered include cost of additives and aggregates, slump for mixing and placement, and performance.
– Mix design includes cement, coarse and fine aggregates, water, and chemical admixtures, with specified mixing method and conditions.
– Ingredients vary based on the application, with pre-mixed options available.
– A typical concrete batch includes Portland cement, dry sand, dry stone, and water.
– High-strength concrete has a compressive strength greater than 40 MPa (6000 psi).
– Stamped concrete is an architectural concrete with a superior surface finish.
– High-performance concrete (HPC) exceeds common application standards, not limited to strength.
– Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has compressive strengths exceeding 150 MPa, possibly exceeding 250 MPa.
– Micro-reinforced UHPC utilizes continuous, multi-layered, three-dimensional micro-steel mesh.
– Low-density structural concrete uses ceramic aggregates with a density below that of water.
– Self-consolidating concrete is cohesive and flowable without mechanical compaction.
– Vacuum concrete is produced by creating a vacuum inside a concrete mixing truck using steam.
– Shotcrete uses compressed air to shoot concrete onto or into a frame or structure.
– Limecrete utilizes lime as a binder instead of Portland cement.
– Glass concrete incorporates recycled glass as aggregate.
– Asphalt concrete uses bituminous materials as the binder.
– Rapid strength concrete develops high resistance within a few hours.
– Rubberized concrete incorporates rubber for improved durability and flexibility.
– Nanoconcrete contains Portland cement particles no greater than 100 μm.
– Foam concrete is a lightweight and highly insulating material.
– Air-entrained concrete incorporates tiny air bubbles for enhanced workability and durability.
– Engineered cementitious composite is a bendable concrete with enhanced flexibility.
– Ferrocement is a reinforced mortar or plaster system with high strength and durability.
– Ready-mix concrete is manufactured in batch plants according to engineered mix design.
Historic Concrete Composition
– Ancient concrete, like Roman concrete, used volcanic ash and hydrated lime.
– Roman concrete was superior to other recipes and they also invented hydraulic concrete.
– Composition stone and artificial stone are terms used for lime-cemented concretes.
– The term ‘artificial stone’ encompasses various human-made stones, including cemented concretes.
High-Strength Concrete
– High-strength concrete has a compressive strength greater than 40 MPa (6000 psi).
– In the UK, high-strength concrete is defined as having a compressive strength class higher than C50/60.
– Low water-cement ratio (W/C) and silica fume are used to achieve high strength.
– Superplasticizers are added to compensate for reduced workability.
– Careful selection of aggregate is crucial to prevent failure in high-strength concrete.
Stamped Concrete and High-Performance Concrete
– Stamped concrete is an architectural concrete with a superior surface finish.
– High-performance concrete (HPC) exceeds common application standards, not limited to strength.
– HPC can be self-consolidating and compact without segregation.
– HPC exhibits early age strength, long-term mechanical properties, and low permeability.
– Other properties include density, heat of hydration, toughness, volume stability, and durability in severe environments.
– HPC develops a strength greater than 50 MPa (7,300 psi) at specified days and requires well-graded aggregates, cement, fly ash, water-reducing admixtures, and silica fume.
Other Concrete Types
– Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has compressive strengths exceeding 150 MPa, possibly exceeding 250 MPa.
– Micro-reinforced UHPC utilizes continuous, multi-layered, three-dimensional micro-steel mesh.
– Low-density structural concrete uses ceramic aggregates with a density below that of water.
– Self-consolidating concrete is cohesive and flowable without mechanical compaction.
– Vacuum concrete is produced by creating a vacuum inside a concrete mixing truck using steam.
– Shotcrete uses compressed air to shoot concrete onto or into a frame or structure.
– Limecrete utilizes lime as a binder instead of Portland cement.
– Glass concrete incorporates recycled glass as aggregate.
– Asphalt concrete uses bituminous materials as the binder.
– Rapid strength concrete develops high resistance within a few hours.
– Rubberized concrete incorporates rubber for improved durability and flexibility.
– Nanoconcrete contains Portland cement particles no greater than 100 μm.
– Foam concrete is a lightweight and highly insulating material.
– Air-entrained concrete incorporates tiny air bubbles for enhanced workability and durability.
– Engineered cementitious composite is a bendable concrete with enhanced flexibility.
– Ferrocement is a reinforced mortar or plaster system with high strength and durability.
– Ready-mix concrete is manufactured in batch plants according to engineered mix design.
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Concrete is produced in a variety of compositions, finishes and performance characteristics to meet a wide range of needs.
