Communies around the world rely on concrete as a safe, strong and simple building material.

It is used in all types of

construcon; from domesc work to mul-store oce blocks and shopping complexes. Despite the common usage of
concrete, few people are aware of the consideraons involved in designing strong, durable, high quality concrete. Con-
crete Basics aims to provide a clear, concise explanaon of all aspects of making quality concrete; from the Materials and
Properes involved through Planning, Preparaon, Finishing and Curing.
CONCRETE is made by mixing CEMENT, WATER, COARSE, FINE AGGREGATES and ADMIXTURES (if required). The
amount of each material (ie cement, water and aggregates) aects the properes of hardened concrete.
The four main properes of concrete are WORKABILITY, COHESIVENESS, STRENGTH and DURABILITY. Concrete has
three dierent states PLASTIC, SETTING, and HARDENING. In each state it has dierent properes.
a. Plasc State : When the concrete is rst mixed it is like 'bread dough'. It is so and can be worked or molded into
dierent shapes. In this state concrete is called PLASTIC. Concrete is plasc during placing and compacon. The most
important properes of plasc concrete are workability and cohesiveness. A worker will sink into plasc concrete.
b. Seng State : Concrete then begins to sen. The sening of concrete, when it is no longer so, is called SETTING.
Seng takes place aer compacon and during nishing. Concrete that is sloppy or wet may be easy to place but will
be more dicult to nish. A worker leaves footprints in seng concrete.
c. Hardening State : Aer concrete has set it begins to gain strength and harden. The properes of hardened concrete
are strength and durability. Hardened concrete will have no footprints on it if walked on.










The proporon of each material in the mixture aects the properes of the nal hardened concrete. These propor-
ons are best measured by weight. Measurement by volume is not as accurate, but is suitable for minor projects.
a. CEMENT CONTENT As the cement content increases, so does strength and dura-
bility. Therefore to increase the strength, increase the cement content of a mix.
b. WATER CONTENT Adding more water to a mix
gives a weaker hardened concrete. Always use as
lile water as possible, only enough to make the
mix workable.
c. WATER TO CEMENT RATIO As the water to
cement rao increases, the strength and durabil-
ity of hardened concrete decrease. To increase
the strength and durability of concrete, decrease
the Water-Cement rao.
d. AGGREGATES Too much ne aggregate gives a
scky mix. Too much coarse aggregate gives a
harsh or boney mix.
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There are two main tests to be done on concrete, The SLUMP test and COMPRESSION TEST.
a. The SLUMP test shows the WORKABILITY of concrete. Workability measures how easy the concrete is to place, handle
and compact.
b. The COMPRESSION test shows the best possible strength concrete can reach in perfect condions. The compression
test measures concrete strength in the hardened state. Tesng should always be done carefully. Wrong test results
can be costly.
SAFETY Workers on the site should always wear protecve clothing, strong boots and, if required, helmets or eye pro-
tecon. Always avoid direct contact with cement and never kneel in or touch the concrete mix directly. Wear gloves or
use barrier creams. Ensure that anyone using heavy equipment, such as screeds or vibrators, has been properly trained.
The following steps should be taken before any concrete is placed.
a. MEASUREMENT Measure and stake out the area to be concreted and consider how thick the slab must be.
b. THE FINISHING LEVEL Once the thickness of concrete has been established, work out where the concrete will nish.
c. EXCAVATION The ground should be excavated as deep as is required by the nishing levels. Any roots or grass must
be dug out unl there is rm soil to place on. Always dig the hole wider than needed to allow for the formwork.
d. SUBGRADE The soil a concrete pavement or oor rests on is called the subgrade. If the soil is so or varies in soness,
a layer of crushed rock should be used. If there are only a few poor areas these can be dug out, relled and compact-
ed. It is important that the soil evenly supports the concrete.
e. FORMWORK Formwork gives concrete its shape, Formwork must be properly braced so it is strong. It should not ex
or move.
f. SERVICES Plumbing, heang or electrical services oen run through a slab. These must be in place before any concrete
is poured.
g. UNDERLAY AND SERVICES The underlay, or vapour barrier, is a heavy plasc covering the ground to minimise water
vapour rising through the hardened concrete. Always overlap the sheets a minimum of 200 mm and do not tape them.
Tape the edges of underlay only around drainage pipes or services which pass vercally through the concrete slab.
Termite protecon may be required around service penetraons and round the perimeter of the slab.
h. REINFORCEMENT LOCATION Reinforcement can be used to increase the strength of concrete and/or to help control
cracking.
i. ACCESS Clear access must be provided to transport the concrete. If concrete is to be delivered by trucks make sure
they have unrestricted access to the site in all weather condions.
j. PLACEMENT Ensure all planning and site preparaon takes into account how concrete will be placed allowing room
for trucks, ramps for wheelbarrows, space for a pump etc.
k. JOINTS The posion, type and number of joints should be planned well before the concrete is placed.
l. WASTAGE Good planning and site preparaon reduces wastage. Reducing wastage can cut costs, since up to 15% of
concrete can be lost this way.
Curing Concrete
Curing is done just aer nishing the concrete surface, as soon as it will not be damaged. APPLYING EXTRA WATER to
the surface of the concrete, or STOPPING water loss from the concrete. The most important thing in curing is to keep the
concrete moist at all mes. Hosing in the morning and again at night and leng the concrete dry out in between is no
good. Another way to cure concrete is to cover with PLASTIC SHEETS to slow down water loss. This method is easy and
cheap. The only problem is that the sheets may cause concrete to become darker in places. To avoid this keep concrete
EVENLY moist. Concrete may also be cured by applying a CURING COMPOUND which slows water loss. This should be ap-
plied soon aer nishing. Concrete keeps geng HARDER AND STRONGER over TIME. Household concrete jobs MUST be
cured for at least 3 DAYS. For beer strength and durability, cure concrete for 7 DAYS. The LONGER concrete is cured, the
closer it will be to its best possible strength and durability.
Concrete Basics | Concrete Basics | Concrete
Published by : PT Bahtera Agung, For Free Estimation : 0823.6292.8899, E: pt.bahteraagung@gmail.com, W : www.bahteraagung.tk