Volume weight of concrete: density and mass of products

In the process of planning construction works, masters quite often have questions about the weight characteristics of the materials. For example, in order to correctly calculate the load on the foundation, among other things, you need to find out what is the volume weight of the concrete M200 used in pouring.

In principle, if the information is needed “right this second,” then it can be found in special directories or on the Internet. However, if you plan to become a specialist, then it is worthwhile to study this issue thoroughly.

The density of the material and its mass

Factors affecting the weight of the solution

Before studying concrete figures, it is necessary to understand what the ratio of mass and volume of mortar depends on.

Here the following factors will be important:

• The composition of the binder. Here the relationship between the mass and the strength of the material will be quite obvious - the use of high-quality cements contributes to the formation of a more dense internal structure, and therefore the solution will be more difficult.

• Material used as filler. The importance of this factor is also obvious: if you use granite, the concrete will be heavy primarily because of the mineral fraction. But the use of expanded clay, wood chips or polystyrene can significantly reduce the load that the solution will have on the base and supporting structures.

Note! Changing the amount of lightweight filler, you can vary the density of the composition: for example, the bulk weight of expanded clay concrete ranges from 300 to 1800 kg / m³.

• Porosity. Here you need to understand that in full-bodied concretes, this parameter is usually sought to be reduced, which leads to their weighting. But cellular building concrete blocks (foam concrete, gas block), on the contrary, are made with the involvement of large amounts of air.

• As for such a parameter as the volume weight of the asphalt concrete mix, it does not depend so much on the porosity, since the material is processed after laying. For comparison, according to the instructions for the arrangement of the roadway VSN 14-95, the difference in mass between a dense and loose coarse-grained mixture is only 40 kg / m³ (2340 and 2300, respectively).
• Reinforcement. It is important to understand here that the volume of reinforcement in the thickness of the material is relatively small, but it can still affect its characteristics.

It is also worth noting that, in addition to the composition and other features, the moisture content also affects the described characteristic. In the process of drying, the structure becomes lighter, and therefore the instruction recommends to carry out the final calculations, relying precisely on the properties of qualitatively dried concrete.

Tip! But when installing the formwork, it is the “wet” weight that is taken into account, so the margin of safety here needs to be made somewhat larger.

Typology of materials by weight

To facilitate the selection of materials, experts usually divide them into several groups.

The most common classification is:

• Particularly heavy concretes. They are used where the structure is experiencing extreme weight loads, characterized by increased strength. They are distinguished by a high price and complexity of production, because such compositions are practically not applicable in private construction.

• Iron ores (hematites, barites), pig iron fragments, etc. are used as filler. Together with the use of high-quality cements, this leads to the fact that the weight characteristics of such a composition vary from 2500 to 3200 kg / m³.
• Heavy concrete (1800 - 2500 kg / m³) most in demand in construction work. They are distinguished by the “classic” composition (cement M200 - M400, sand, gravel, lime), high strength and wear resistance. A significant number of varieties leads to the fact that the weight characteristics of any composition need to count with their own hands.

Note! Pavements are sometimes referred to this category. For example, according to standards, the bulk weight of asphalt concrete during disassembly is taken equal to 2.2 - 2.3 t / m³.

• Lightweight concretes. They are used in energy-saving construction, as well as heat insulating lining of massive load-bearing structures. A decrease in the bulk density is provided by using porous materials as a filler - expanded clay, pumice, tuff, etc., as well as the involvement of excess air.

• Ultralight formulations (less than 500 kg / m³) rarely used for the construction of supporting structures. Much more often such material is taken as a lining, experiencing minimal operating loads. These include cellular concrete of low density, as well as compositions on vermiculite, perlite, etc.

Values ​​for most commonly used formulations

Now, taking into account the above information, you can easily understand the main characteristics of the solution used. And to facilitate the calculations below, we present some reference data.

Mass of concrete of various classes / brands:

It should be remembered that the data presented here are indicative, since they can vary depending on the proportions of the filler and the water involved in the solution.

It is also worth exploring the properties of various materials that are used in construction, either together with ordinary concrete, or instead of it:

As in the previous case, you need to keep in mind that the numbers within the specified limits may vary depending on the characteristics of a particular batch. For example, the volume weight of aerated concrete directly depends on how completely the gas-forming additive reacts with water.

Conclusion

Volumetric weight of reinforced concrete, conventional solutions, as well as compositions with high thermal insulation indicators depends on many factors. And for the correct calculation of the bearing capacity of the structure, it is necessary to take into account their influence. The video in this article will help newcomers to understand this issue in more detail, and background information will be useful for self-design.