The density of heavy concrete: the use of additives.

Concrete seriously and for a long time took the place of the main building material. Due to its versatility, it has found application in the construction of various objects. Depending on the technical requirements for the future design depends on the type of material that will be used during the construction of the object.

Types of concrete

Depending on the density of the composition, there are:

• Particularly light.
• Lungs.
• Heavy.
• Particularly heavy.

Each of these types has its own field of application, in which they are successfully used. In this article will be considered heavy type. It should immediately be said that the price for heavy varieties is higher than for light ones. This is quite logical, since other fillers are used, they are denser and used for other purposes, and have some advantages over the lungs.

Heavy concrete has a density of 1,800 to 2,500 kilograms per cubic meter (kg / cubic meter). The instruction states that such material is used mainly for the construction of buildings, industrial facilities, hydraulic structures. In most cases, rocks, such as granite, gravel, limestone, serve as a filler.

Use of additives

In modern conditions of construction it is almost impossible to do without the use of various additives for mixtures, especially considering that there is nothing difficult in applying them and you can add them to the solution with your own hands. The scope of their application is very wide.

It:

• Combating the destructive action of the aquatic environment, additives increase the waterproofing and water-repellent properties, which ultimately increases the service life.
• Giving the object additional strength characteristics, which instantly expands the scope of the use of such a composition, both in the technical sense and geographically.
• The increase in frost resistance allows building in the most extreme conditions of the far north.

Note! The last point is especially important for construction in regions with a temperate climate and in the Far North. Also, do not overlook the fact that construction often has to be carried out in winter conditions at sub-zero temperatures.

To increase the resistance to negative effects of negative ambient temperatures, air-entraining additives are often added to the concrete during the preparation of the mixture.

Designing the composition of heavy concrete with an air entraining additive is not as difficult as it may seem at first glance. It is enough to adhere to the rule that states that the proportion of the additive should be from 0.03% to 0.1% by weight of cement in terms of dry matter, if we are talking about heavy concrete.

Note! Do not exceed the percentage indicated above when preparing the solution. This may adversely affect its performance.

Calculation of the composition

Before starting any construction it is necessary to calculate the composition of heavy concrete. The correct calculation can save from 5 to 10 kilograms of cement per 1 cubic meter.

If we take into account the scale of construction of the same multi-storey residential complexes, it becomes clear what savings can be achieved by carrying out the correct calculations.

There are 2 main ways that builders resort to:

• The first and easiest one is to use the available standard tables.. And already on their basis to make calculations.

• The second method is more complicated, but also more accurate.. It involves taking into account absolutely all possible characteristics of materials that play the role of aggregates. This is a rather time-consuming task, since there are a great many different GOST and SNiPs that establish their own standards for calculating, manufacturing and using building materials.
• Concrete mixes of heavy concrete according to GOST must meet certain requirements.. But all these works are justified, since as a result the composition that is most suitable for these specific conditions is selected.

Weight

Of course, one of the most important characteristics is weight. For example, the choice of a particular foundation depends on the type of soil on which the construction object will be erected.

And here it is very important to take into account the weight of the foundation, that is, to determine what pressure will be exerted on the ground, and whether it can withstand such pressure without harming the future structure. Note that we can consider the relationship to weight indicated in the table.

Depending on the components that were used to prepare the mixture, and on the proportions in which these components were mixed, the weight varies from 1800 to 2500 kilograms per 1 cubic meter.

How important it is to understand the final weight, any designer will say, since this indicator is directly related to the development of the entire project of absolutely any building. From this parameter depends on the choice of the concrete foundation, the calculation of all loads, the consideration of all moments with the work with the ground.

Geological surveys of the soil are also related to the type of concrete chosen. The more specific the soil is presented at the construction site, the more accurately it is necessary to approach the choice of the type of concrete and its weight category.

It is heavy concrete that occupy leading positions in capital construction. To save money and make optimal use of the building material, even before the start of work, it is necessary to carry out all calculations concerning its composition, weight and density. This will avoid unnecessary errors, which are incredibly expensive to correct. (See also the article Concrete compaction: features.)

Conclusion

Regardless of the type of future construction of concrete, as the basis of the whole structure, the greatest attention is paid even during the design work on design and the collection of all loads. The video in this article will be able to demonstrate the distinctive features of heavy compositions that can be used in independent works.