WHAT IS CONCRETE?

Concrete is a composite material composed of coarse aggregate bonded together with fluid cement that hardens over time. Most concretes used are lime-based concretes such as Portland cement concrete or concretes made with other hydraulic cement.

How concrete formation takes place?

When aggregate is mixed together with dry Portland cement and water, the mixture forms a fluid mass that is easily molded into shape. The cement reacts chemically with water and other ingredients to form a hard matrix that binds the materials together into a durable stone-like material. Often, additives are included in the mixture to improve the physical properties of the wet mix or the finished material. Most concrete is poured with reinforcing materials embedded to provide tensile strength, yielding reinforced concrete.

How does it degrade?

Concrete can be damaged by fire, aggregate expansion, sea water effects, bacterial corrosion, calcium leaching, physical damage and chemical damage. This process adversely affects concrete exposed to these damaging stimuli.

How can it be repaired?

It may be necessary to repair a concrete structure following damage. Strengthening may be necessary if the structure is under strength.

Repair techniques

The first step should always be an investigation to determine the cause of the deterioration. The general principles of repair include: arresting and preventing further degradation; treating exposed steel reinforcement; and filling holes left by the removal of spalled or damaged concrete. The selection of the appropriate technique will depend on the cause of the initial damage and whether the repair is to be fully load-bearing or simply cosmetic.

One method for the repair of cracks is to use bacteria. BacillaFilla is a genetically engineered bacteria designed to repair damaged concrete, filling in the cracks, and making them whole again. Techniques for filling holes left by the removal of spalled or damaged concrete include: mortar repairs; flowing concrete repairs and sprayed concrete repairs.

Strengthening techniques

Various techniques are available for strengthening concrete structures, to increase the load-carrying capacity or else to improve the in-service performance. These include increasing the concrete cross-section, adding material such as steel plate or fiber composites to enhance the tensile capacity and providing additional pre stressing.

Coming up with a successful concrete repair

Structural concrete repairs incorporate new materials to the one that already exist to create a structural composite that will survive any environmental or operational conditions while concurrently providing an extension to the life service. Al boom group of companies provides wide range of services. For more details, do visit our website at http://www.alboomgroups.com/