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/
