Frost resistance of concrete containing brick aggregate Dissertation

Frost resistance of concrete containing brick aggregate - Dissertation Example This amazing ability also allowed him to predict, characterize and exploit the chemical and physical qualities of minerals, metals and other elements found in nature. It is this specific knowledge that makes it possible to develop new applications in the industries such as construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing, food production, etc. Early structures built by early civilizations of Egypt, China, India and other nations are still in existence today, although most of them are in ruins already. Man will always build new structures as habitat and places to work in, sometimes building skyscrapers to maximize the use of limited land. However, a growing realization that Earth's resources are not infinite has lead to the Green Movement in the construction industry these days. A big component of today's modern structures is concrete which makes up more than 60% of the total volume in construction materials. This paper discusses the exciting possibilities of using concrete with brick aggreg ates in them to improve their frost resistance and make them long-lasting. This paper examines the use of brick aggregates instead of the other usual aggregates in cement. Some studies showed brick aggregates concrete to have better qualities (Singh 27). I. Aim of the Project It is the aspiration of every architect and engineer to build structures which can last for long periods of time. The idea is to build for posterity if possible and this can be done with the right types of construction materials. Concrete has always been a favourite material due to its availability, strength and ease of use. The word concrete comes from the Latin concretus which means compact or condensed; this makes concrete desirable as a material of choice. In concrete, builders have found the ideal material to construct grand buildings of all shapes and sizes. Concrete is a composite construction material derived by mixing cement with fly ash, slags, aggregates (made up of gravel, crushed rocks, limestone, granite and a little bit of sand) water and several chemical admixtures. Concrete solidifies into place after mixing it with water in a process known as hydration. The water reacts chemically with the cement to form and bond all its other components together into a hard rock-like material. Concrete is the most widely-used man-made construction material in the world today. A lot of factors determine whether the concrete will stand the test of time. Moreover, engineering structural designs need to take into consideration the actual load weights imposed on the concrete. A concrete structure is exposed to various elements of nature such as wind, rain, earthquakes, fires, moisture and snow, to name just a few. In other words, the durability of a structure is to a large extent determined by its exposure to the elements. An important consideration that allows a concrete mixture to withstand the extreme elements of nature is the design and composition of the aggregates mixture forming the c oncrete. It is in this regard that I am examining how brick aggregates can improve the frost resistance of the concrete. A re-examination of its desired frost-resistant qualities is vital because it will improve concrete structures by making them more durable. It will help in minimising use of scarce construction materials by reducing a need to build new structures to replace old ones. The problem of