Concrete @ your Fingertips

Concrete - what is it?

Concrete is an engineering material that simulates the properties of rock being a combination of particles closely bound together. It is simply a blend of aggregates. normally natural sand and gravel or crushed rock bound together by a hydraulic binder e.g. Portland cement, actvated by water, to form a dense semi homogenous mass.

Because of its general characteristics concrete is sometimes refered to as artificial rock.

Concrete is very strong in resisting compression. In use where tensile stresses have to be accommodated reinforcement is incorporated into the concrete to absorb tension.

Concrete is the most widely used construction material. It allows flexibility in structural form as it can be moulded into a multiplicity of shapes.

Acknowledgement: Concrete Society