concrete

Concrete

__Concrete__ is a manufactured mixture of cement and water, with aggregates of sand and stones, which hardens rapidly by chemical combination to a stonelike, water-and-fire-resisting solid of great compressive but low tensile strength.

__Reinforced concrete__ was developed to add the tensile strength of steel to the compressive strength of mass concrete. It was invented (1849) by Joseph Monier, who received a patent in 1867.

__concrete-shell construction__ is one of the lattest developments which permits the erection of vast vaults and domes with a concrete and steel content so reduced that the thickness is comparatively less than that of an eggshell.

__precast-concrete__ construction is another development which employs bricks, slabs, and supports made under optimal factory conditions to increase waterproofing and solidity, to decrease time and cost in erection, and to reduce expansion and contractions.

__prestressed concrete__ p rovides bearing members into which reinforcement is set under tension to produce a live force to resist a particular load. Since the member acts like a spring, it can carry a greater load than an unstressed member of the same size.

Reinforced concrete

Precast concrete

Prestressed concrete

concrete- shell