The subject of concrete engineering is acquiring tremendous significance as we continue to use more and more concrete in diverse conditions, we use new materials new technologies. We have more experience from previously built structures and we realize that concrete is not a maintenance free material also in recent times there is a rising concern about quality and durability of concrete construction. So, in other word a concrete engineer needs to update the understanding of concrete as a material and its properties.
Concrete Meaning
Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. In the past, lime-based cement binders, such as lime putty, were often used but sometimes with other hydraulic cements, such as a calcium aluminate cement or with Portland cement to form Portland cement concrete (named for its visual resemblance to Portland stone).
These are major steps involved in concreting process-
Choosing the Constituents.
Proportioning.
Mixing.
Transportation.
Placing.
Compacting/ Vibrating.
Curing.
Choosing the Constituents
We need to choose the constituents what kind of cements what kind of coarse aggregates what chemical admixtures will be used for a particular project.
Proportioning
Once the Materials are finalized, we need to decide how much each of the constituents will be used to prepare the mix for concreting process.
Mixing
In the mixing process, the selected materials are mixed thoroughly to the required proportions. It’s done until the resultant concrete paste has a uniform consistency and colour.
Transportation
Once the mixing process is complete, the concrete is transported to the site of placement, i.e.- where concreting needs to be done.
Placing
Now, placing refers to the concrete been placed at the actual site of placement if a building is been constructed the building site is the site of placement. However, the concrete is placed in a particular beam or a slab or a column which may be at a height, if it is a foundation it may be at a depth and so on.
So, this placing here refers to the process by which the concrete actually brought to the site of placement, which is the building construction site is actually placed in the final place, or the final location where the concrete needs to be set after the concrete has been set for concreting process.
Compacting/ Vibrating
Once the concrete has been evenly distributed into the formwork, the process of compaction begins. The aim is to eliminate air bubbles to increase the strength of the concrete.
Curing
The concrete needs to cured that is we need to be mixture that enough water is available to the cement to ensure complete hydration or as complete the hydration as is possible.
Final Words
So, in a project with specific conditions and specifications the design and construction methodology, an engineer tries to understand or tries to look at how all these processes is will be managed.
So, for a particular project one may choose a particular method of transportation for a particular project one may choose a specific constituent, a specific method of vibration sometimes vibration is not possible. Therefore, you need to change the constituents of the material and so on and so forth. So, concrete engineer really needs to know the importance of all these processes and how they are interconnected for an effective concreting process.
