Concrete is one of the most popular building materials in the world. It is used in the construction of commercial buildings, motorways, highways, and other mega projects. Concrete comes in different types and mixtures to suit the needs and preferences of both the client and the project. Some projects require extra strength to withstand external forces. This means the concrete strength needs to be increased during the production process before concrete delivery. We will discuss the methods of testing and increasing concrete strength to improve its durability for projects that need to stand the test of time.
What Is Durability And Strength In Concrete?
Durability and strength are the two most important factors when it comes to discussing the reliability of concrete. People tend to confuse the terms, assuming both are the same, but there is a significant difference. Durability of concrete refers to its ability to resist deterioration.
In other words, it determines how well the concrete can maintain its structural integrity over an extended period of time. To come up with a durable concrete mixture, you will need to use high-quality concrete, admixtures, and manufacturing techniques that ensure long-term performance.
A durable concrete mixture will be able to withstand extreme moisture, temperature changes, and chemical attacks. On the other hand, concrete strength refers to the ability of the concrete to withstand external and applied forces without deforming or breaking. Concrete strength is usually measured in compressive strength, which means the higher the compressive strength, the stronger the concrete.
Such characteristics make concrete a highly suitable material for building bridges, buildings, and other structures.
Methods To Test The Strength And Durability Of Concrete
There are several ways of testing the strength and durability of concrete. Here’s a list:
Compression Test
The compression test is the most popular test for determining concrete’s durability. This method involves using a hydraulic cylinder that exerts force or pressure on concrete structures or samples until failure. The maximum load withstood by concrete just before breaking is its compressive strength.
This test gives an accurate idea of how strong the concrete is if it is used in the construction of particular types of structures.
Flexural Test
In addition to that, the flexural test or modulus of rupture is determined by subjecting concrete prisms or beams to bending forces. This test helps determine the concrete’s ability to withstand bending under extreme forces. This type of concrete is mostly used for slabs, beams, and pavements.
Non-Destructive Testing
Furthermore, NDT or Non-Destructive Testing is the modern way of examining or studying the strength and durability of concrete. As the term suggests, this method does not damage or affect the structural integrity of the sample. It uses non-destructive methods such as ultrasonic testing, electrical resistivity, and rebound hammer.
These tests make it a lot easier for experts to inspect and keep an eye on concrete’s properties over time. Another way of testing concrete’s strength and durability is by performing a chloride penetration test. It helps experts determine the concrete’s ability to resist chloride ion penetration.
The reason is that it can cause corrosion of the reinforcing steel. The experts perform such tests under controlled conditions and inject chloride into concrete to study its effects. The depth of chlorine penetration is what the experts are looking for.
Abrasion Resistance Tests
Finally, the abrasion resistance test determines the concrete’s ability to withstand wear and abrasion by or from football, traffic, or mechanical forces. The test helps determine the loss of surface material of concrete due to abrasion. Such testing methods provide valuable information when it comes to flooring and pavement applications. Before ordering concrete mix delivery Gaithersburg, make sure that the supplier either has or can connect you with testing labs.
How To Improve The Strength Of Concrete?
Improving concrete’s strength is essential, especially if the region is prone to extreme weather conditions.
Use High-Quality Materials
The best way to increase concrete’s strength and durability is by using high-quality materials. High-quality admixtures and aggregates significantly improve and increase the concrete’s durability and strength over time. But, this is only possible if the concrete is manufactured under controlled environments using proper studies and techniques.
Whether you’re planning a small project like patio installation or managing huge projects like building commercial structures and bridges, high-quality materials will ensure the concrete has the required strength for the project.
Proper Mix Design
Additionally, using the proper mix design also helps improve the concrete’s durability. This means using a proper water-cement ratio while minimizing shrinking and cracking. Furthermore, a proper curing process prevents concrete from losing too much moisture at the same time during the hydration process.
No Excessive Water Sprays
During the curing process, the concrete should not be sprayed excessively with water to increase its strength. Instead, moist curing or curing compounds should be used to its improve strength.
Use Reinforcements
Concrete can also be strengthened and made more durable by using reinforcements such as mesh or rebar that help improve the structural integrity. It also helps increase the load-bearing capacity of concrete structures.
This way, the concrete structures are able to withstand external forces like earthquakes, thunderstorms, and flooding.
Optimizing Aggregate Mix for Strength
Although using aggregates significantly helps improve the strength and durability of concrete, that does not mean using an unlimited amount or type of aggregates. The amount and type of aggregates used influence the characteristics of the concrete.
The key is to use a proper balance of different aggregate mixes. When it comes to increasing the strength and durability of concrete using aggregates, the experts use a meticulous process that considers the shape, distribution, and texture of the aggregates to achieve the desired result.
How To Find The Right Concrete Supplier?
Now that you are familiar with the methods to increase concrete’s strength and reliability, it is equally important for you to pick the right concrete supplier or manufacturer. The reason is that there is a huge market saturation in the construction world.
Regions that have implemented strict construction regulations require manufacturers to acquire certifications and approvals. Such concrete manufacturers have to conform to the industry standards and use high-quality processes, equipment, labor, and techniques.
As a result, concrete manufactured by these sources is relatively better in terms of strength. That said, while searching for the perfect source, you should do some research and personally visit or call manufacturers to interview them about their ways of manufacturing concrete.
A good supplier will answer all your questions without any hesitation and won’t dodge them. Opting for such a supplier is always the best option, as they are confident about their product. But, if you come across someone who is willing to supply concrete at a cheaper rate and does not possess any state approvals, you should avoid choosing them, as they can land you in legal trouble.
Conclusion
Increasing concrete strength and reliability requires using the right type, size, and volume of aggregates, admixtures, techniques, and processes. Plus, concrete should also be thoroughly tested to ensure it can withstand different types of forces. Your choice in selecting the right ready mix concrete supplier Bethesda will add to the robustness of the concrete delivered.
