"Empowering Minds, Engineering the Future
Reinforced cement concrete is a topic you will need to familiarize at some point, if you are into civil engineering field. The category explicitly presents it. Reinforced cement concrete (RCC), a composite material has been accepted worldwide as a construction material, bridges, retaining walls, docks and harbour, airfield pavements, flyovers,multi-storey building,complexes and simple houses etc., Concrete is good in resisting compression but is very weak in resisting tension. Hence reinforcement is provided in the concrete wherever tensile stress is expected. The best reinforcement is steel since the tensile strength of steel is quite high and the bond between steel and concrete is good. As the elastic modulus of steel is high, for the same extension the force resisted by steel is high compared to concrete. However in tensile zone, hair cracks in concrete are unavoidable. Reinforcements are usually in the form of mild steel or ribbed steel bars of 6 mm to 32 mm diameter. A cage of reinforcements is prepared as per the design requirements, kept in a formwork and then green concrete is poured. After the concrete hardens, the formwork is removed. The composite material of steel and concrete now called R.C.C. acts as a structural member and can resist tensile as well as compressive stresses very well. Aggregates are the inert or chemically inactive materials which form the bulk of cement concrete. These aggregates are bound together by means of a cement. They can be classified into two. The selection of aggregate is based on the purpose and its maximum size.
Column jacketing enhances the load capacity, durability, and seismic resistance of structural columns by adding materials like concrete, steel, and fiber-reinforced polymers around existing columns. This method is essential for retrofitting aging structures, meeting safety standards, and improving resilience against various loads, particularly in earthquake-prone areas.
Shrinkage of concrete refers to the reduction in its volume over time, primarily due to moisture loss and chemical reactions during hydration. This phenomenon can lead to shrinkage cracking of concrete, compromising structural integrity and durability. Understanding what shrinkage of concrete is involves recognizing its various forms, such as drying shrinkage, autogenous shrinkage, and thermal shrinkage.
Waffle slabs are ribbed reinforced concrete slabs. A waffle slab often referred to as a ribbed slab, is a structural component that is plain on top and has a grid pattern on the bottom. A waffle slab also called a two-way joist slab got ribs running perpendicular to each other in two directions on the underside. This slab resembles pockets of waffles because of its grid pattern. Hence they are named Waffle slab systems.
The concrete compressive strength formula is fundamental. It calculates how well concrete can resist axial loads without failing. Concrete compressive strength formula is crucial for determining the strength of concrete structures. It also ensures the durability of buildings, bridges, and roads. The formula for concrete compressive strength is expressed as fc = P/A. Here, P is the applied load. A is the cross-sectional area of the concrete specimen. To ensure accuracy, concrete compressive strength testing methods follow strict guidelines.
Destructive tests (DT) and Non-destructive tests (DT) are the tests done on hardened concrete. Concrete is the oldest and most important construction material in the world. Testing of the concrete plays an important role to know the strength, durability and condition of the structure.
Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is a high-performance, self-leveling concrete that flows effortlessly without external vibration. It improves workability, reduces labor costs, and enhances structural quality. Its advanced mix design includes aggregates, cement, and superplasticizers. SCC is ideal for complex structures and offers durability, sustainability, and efficient placement techniques. Enhanced performance trends continue through ongoing research.
Concrete pumps are devices that convey concrete from a concrete source to a casting location. In this blog, I will show you the basic theory, forms, and selection of concrete pumps.
Non-destructive test (NDT) and destructive tests (DT) are the the tests done one hardened concrete. Concrete is the oldest and most important construction material in the world. Testing of the concrete plays and important role to know about the strength, durability and condition of the structure. This article is about the types of Destructive and non destructive tests done on concrete.
Rebound hammer test is one of the most popular and simple non-destructive concrete tests. The Non-destructive test is the process of detection of defects in concrete without its destruction. The determination of concrete quality is necessary for both fresh concrete and hardened concrete. The rebound hammer test is the common test for determining quality for existing structures.
The splitting tensile strength test is performed on hardened concrete to determine its tensile strength. Marginal variations in water to cement ratio, ingredient proportioning, increase in a slump, etc impacts the desired concrete strength. This in turn affects the strength and stability of structures. There are several tests to determine the strength of concrete.
