ABSTRACT

Concrete is weak as compared to steel but it is also brittle. Then also it is the most widely used material for the construction purpose. This is because of its versatility. It has many desirable engineering properties. There are many types of concrete available to us, created by varying the proportions of the main ingredients. Several materials are used to produce a good quality concrete. They are all important because they impart strength and durability to the concrete. Proportioning a concrete mix for a given purpose is thus the art of obtaining a suitable ratio of the various ingredients of concrete with the required properties at the lowest cost. Poor compaction and improper curing will lead to porous concrete with low strength and high permeability. The hardened state properties apart from strength are impermeability, impact strength , fatigue strength, and good acoustic and thermal characteristics. Concrete production is the process of mixing together the various ingredients—water, aggregate, cement, and any additives—to produce concrete. The batching , mixing, transportation, placing, compaction, finishing and curing are very complimentary
It is also brittle. Then also it is the most widely used material for the construction purpose. This is because of its versatility. It has many desirable engineering properties. It can also be made on the site, thus making it easily available. It can be moulded into any shape and design. Most importantly, it is produced with cost-effective materials.
No other materials like wood, steel, asphalt can be used for making dams or a building. And concrete can be used to build all these elegantly.
In the words of J.W. Kelly, ‘It is used to support, to enclose, to surface and to fill.’
Concrete posses very good water –resistant properties and hence can be used to draw water through concrete pipes, dams and tanks for