Did you know that the Ancient Romans were the first to use concrete widespread in most of their construction? If you are looking at the different types of concrete construction, you are in the right place. We have put together this short guide to share the different types of concrete in construction.
Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of different concrete types.
1. Plain Concrete
The components of plain or ordinary concrete are cement, aggregates, and sand. Ordinary concrete can be used to make pavement when there is not a lot of tension strength needed because it doesn’t stand up well against wind loading or vibrations. Plain concrete is often used in dam construction.
2. Precast Concrete
This type of concrete is created in a factory and also cast in a factory. There are exact specifications used when creating precast concrete. Once the concrete is created for something such as a tilt up concrete wall then it is transported to the site and assembled for whatever it is going to be used for.
3. Reinforced Concrete
Modern construction uses a lot of reinforced concrete. This is when the concrete’s strength is reinforced by placing steel rods, wires, and cables in the concrete before it sets completely. Rebar is a commonly used name for reinforced concrete.
When the concrete is reinforced like this, it helps resist compressive forces because a strong bond is created and eventually the concrete becomes a single structural element.
4. Air-Entrained Concrete
There are some concrete types that hold billions of microscopic air cells in every cubic foot. The small air pockets help relieve the internal pressure that is found on the concrete and they also provide tiny chambers that allow water to expand when it freezes.
This air is incorporated in the concrete thanks to different foaming agents that are added. These foaming agents include resins, alcohols, and fatty acids that are added during the mixing process.
5. Ready-Mix Concrete
Most of us have seen cement trucks working on highways or roads pouring out concrete. This is how ready-mix concrete is mixed while being transported to the job site. Once the truck reaches its destination the cement is used immediately because there is no further treatment needed since it was mixed during the drive.
It is important to take the length of the drive into consideration because if the concrete takes too long to reach the work site, it can’t be used. If it is a bit far but not too far then retarding agents can be added into the mixture to help delay how long the concrete takes to set.
Feeling Like a Concrete Construction Pro?
We hope that now that you learned more about the different types of concrete construction, you are feeling more knowledgeable to make informed decisions on your next concrete project.
If our blog post came in handy please feel free to continue browsing this section for more construction tidbits.
