pave the way: A resource for the concrete industry BY POWERBLANKET
1 pave the way: A resource for the concrete industry BY POW ER B L A NK ET Concrete is a staple of modern society. It supports our homes and offices, paves our roads and runways, and carries water and sewage away. Nearly every building uses concrete as a foundation. It can be seen in every construction site. empire in the regions of southern Syria and northern Jordan.
2 200 BC – Engineers of the Roman Empire learned that mixing concrete with volcanic ash made it possible to create pillars of concrete underwater, allowing for expansive harbors to be built on the coasts of Italy. DARK AGES – Concrete building knowledge and skill sets virtually disappeared during the Dark Ages. In 1414 an ancient manuscript with descriptions of concrete ingredients was found; however, it wasn’t until the late 18th Century that concrete returned as a viable building substance.
3 BUILDING BLOCK OF HUMANITY Concrete is the second-most consumed material on Earth, after water. According to concrete know-italls Cement Trust: “There are nearly three tons of concrete produced each year for every human on the planet, making it the most used man-made product in the world. Concrete production and concrete construction have an impact on almost every facet of human existence.
4 Coarse aggregates Coarse aggregates are any particles greater than 0.19 inch, but generally range between 3/8 and 1.5 inches in diameter. Gravels constitute the majority of coarse aggregate used in concrete with crushed stone making up most of the remainder. present, the cement will continue reacting and hardening. FACTORS INFLUENCING CURE TIME • • • • • “Particle shape and surface texture influence the properties of freshly mixed concrete more than the properties of hardened concrete.
5 Perhaps more than any other product installed on a job site, concrete requires advance planning American Concrete Institute WORKING WITH CONCRETE BIDDING A JOB Price is an important factor for any construction bid, however it is only a piece of the concrete puzzle. Clients may be tempted to go for the lowest bidder and that can frequently lead to very visible problems in the quality and durability of their concrete.
6 PRECAST CONCRETE Precast concrete uses molds to form cement into a specific shape. The molds can often be reused to allow formations of the same exact shape to be made over and over again. The business of precast concrete manufacturing is one where you often have to hurry up and wait. Once you pour a precast form, you then have to wait for the time-consuming process of allowing the form to fully cure.
7 A Cure for What Ails You The innovative design of Powerblankets Curing Blankets increases production by rapidly curing with consistent, even heat. BENEFITS OF USING POWERBLANKET CURING BLANKETS Cure concrete 2.8 times faster than conventional insulated blankets Maintain moisture throughout hydrating process WEATHER AND CONCRETE Weather can have a significant impact on concrete strength.
8 Concrete need not deteriorate American Concrete Institute The same goes for hot temperatures and high humidity. High temperatures mean faster curing, but fast curing equates to weaker strength in the end. The following study by Paul Klieger in the Portland Cement Association Research Bulletin 103 illustrates this concept. The FluxWrap is combined with either a cooler or chiller to achieve optimum results. The Circulation Blanket draws heat to the blanket in order to cool the concrete.
9 Climate will always have an effect on concrete no matter how expertly it was laid.
10 Concrete Spalling COMMON CONCRETE PROBLEMS TEMPERATURE BASED Spalling Weather can also have disastrous effects on the surface face of concrete. The most common defect is spalling. Spalling is simply the peeling or loss of the top finished layer of the concrete. It usually happens because the upper surface of the concrete froze before enough crystals grew to give this layer strength of at least 500 psi. Popouts Popouts are another common surface defect.
11 Cracking Salt Lake City based company Solid Concrete Walls describes cracking as naturally occurring, and “in some cases, masonry or concrete foundation walls incorporate a nominal amount of steel reinforcement to control cracking.” According to an article titled, “Reducing Cracking in Concrete,” Solid Concrete Walls says that just because there is a crack in your concrete doesn’t mean danger is imminent. “Cracks in concrete walls and slabs are a common occurrence.
12 Every modern home uses concrete in one way or another...and its use has revolutionized America’s infrastructure Civil + Structural Engineer Magazine Non-acid Stains Non-acid stains treat concrete differently than an acid stain. Instead of altering the structure of the concrete, non-acid stains create a layer over the concrete surface, filling pores and leaving behind a flat, smooth finish. STAINING STEPS In order to stain concrete, the concrete must be cured to its proper strength.
13 THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE As the need for inexpensive and efficient building material grows, so will the need for concrete. Especially in colder climates, concrete is seen as a work of culture as much as it is a construction tool. “Every modern home uses concrete in one way or another,” says Civil+Structural Engineer Magazine, “and its use has revolutionized America’s infrastructure.
