Concrete is a construction material made from a mixture of cement, aggregate (sand or gravel), water and sometimes admixtures in required proportions. Following are the major steps which involved in concreting process:
Steps In Concreting:
Batching:
The process of measuring different concrete materials such as cement, coarse aggregate, sand, water for the making of concrete is known as batching. Batching can be done in two different ways.
- Volume Batching
- Weight Batching.
In volume batching the measurements of concrete materials are taken by volume & On the other hand the measurements are taken by weight in weight batching.
Mixing:
In this process, all the materials are thoroughly mixed in required proportions until the paste shows uniform color and consistency. Hand mixing and machine mixing are the two different methods of mixing.
Note: To achieve optimum quality the materials should be mixed first in dry condition and then in wet condition.
Transportation:
When the mixing is done properly the freshly made concrete is then transported to the construction site, this process is known as transportation. After that, the concrete is correctly placed on the formworks. Concrete can be transported to the site location in two ways
- Manual Transportation.
- Mechanical Transportation.
Compaction:
Compaction is the process in which the air bubbles are eliminated from the freshly placed concrete. It is required to increase the ultimate strength of concrete by enhancing the bond with reinforcement.
Curing:
Curing is the process in which the concrete keeps its moisture for a certain time period to complete the hydration process. Curing should be done properly to increase the strength of concrete.
Required Curing days:
Ordinary Sulphate Resistant Cement – 8 Days.
Low Heat Cement – 14 Days.
Also Read: Concrete Slump Test.
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