23 Facts About Concrete

Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement that hardens over time.

Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most widely used building material.

Concrete is expected to be a key material for structures resilient to climate disasters, as well as a solution to mitigate the pollution of other industries, capturing wastes such as coal fly ash or bauxite tailings and residue.

Concrete, as the Romans knew it, was a new and revolutionary material.

Concrete is an artificial composite material, comprising a matrix of cementitious binder and a dispersed phase or "filler" of aggregate .

Concrete production is the process of mixing together the various ingredients—water, aggregate, cement, and any additives—to produce concrete.

Concrete Mixes are primarily divided into nominal mix, standard mix and design mix.

Concrete must be kept moist during curing in order to achieve optimal strength and durability.

Concrete has relatively high compressive strength, but much lower tensile strength.

Concrete has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion and shrinks as it matures.

Concrete that is subjected to long-duration forces is prone to creep.

Concrete buildings are more resistant to fire than those constructed using steel frames, since concrete has lower heat conductivity than steel and can thus last longer under the same fire conditions.

Concrete is sometimes used as a fire protection for steel frames, for the same effect as above.

Concrete provides good resistance against externally applied forces such as high winds, hurricanes, and tornadoes owing to its lateral stiffness, which results in minimal horizontal movement.

Concrete is used more than any other artificial material in the world.

Concrete is a relatively brittle material that is strong under compression but less in tension.

Concrete roads are more fuel efficient to drive on, more reflective and last significantly longer than other paving surfaces, yet have a much smaller market share than other paving solutions.

Concrete is used to create hard surfaces that contribute to surface runoff, which can cause heavy soil erosion, water pollution, and flooding, but conversely can be used to divert, dam, and control flooding.

Concrete dust released by building demolition and natural disasters can be a major source of dangerous air pollution.

Concrete is a contributor to the urban heat island effect, though less so than asphalt.

Concrete is an excellent material with which to make long-lasting and energy-efficient buildings.

Concrete recycling is an increasingly common method for disposing of concrete structures.

Concrete debris were once routinely shipped to landfills for disposal, but recycling is increasing due to improved environmental awareness, governmental laws and economic benefits.