Basic of Civil Engineering

  Concrete is a construction material composed of cement, fine aggregates (sand) and coarse aggregates (Crushed or natural stones) mixed with water which hardens with time. Portland cement is the commonly used type of cement for the production of concrete. The proportion of Concrete: The proportion of concrete depends upon 1.       cement, 2.       sand, 3.       aggregates and 4.       Water. A mixture of Portland cement and water is called a paste. So, concrete can be called a mixture of paste, sand and aggregates. Sometimes rocks are used instead of aggregates. The cement paste coat the surface of the fine and coarse aggregates when mixed thoroughly and binds them. Soon after mixing the components, hydration reaction starts which provides strength and a rock-solid concrete is obtained. Materials are mixed in specific proportions to obtain the required strength. T...

Cement is a  binder , a substance used for construction that  sets , hardens, and adheres to other  materials  to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel ( aggregate ) together. Cement mixed with fine aggregate produces  mortar  for masonry, or with  sand  and  gravel , produces concrete. Concrete is the most widely used material in existence and is behind only water as the planet's most-consumed resource Use It is used in  mortar  for plastering, masonry work, pointing, etc. It is used for making joints for drains and pipes. It is used for water tightness of structure. It is used in  concrete  for laying floors, roofs and constructing lintels, beams, stairs, pillars etc. It is used where a hard surface is required for the protection of exposed surfaces of structures against the destructive agents of the weather and certain or...