Invention of Concrete

Concrete is great founding of the mankind. It is a very important artificial material, human ever made, in the construction industry. Concrete is a combination of cement (Portland cement), fine aggregate (sand), course aggregate (crushed rock) and water. Concrete is used in construction of bridges, buildings, roads, towers, etc. it is used to transfer load one place to other. Concrete can bear the compressive stress, while it is weak in tensile stress. Reinforcement or fiber is used to improve the tensile capacity of the concrete.

It is believed that concrete was made form lime and volcanic ash by Romans. In 1976, John smeaton, a British engineer made the modern concrete which was call Hydraulic Cement. He used pebbles which were used as course aggregate, brick powder as fine aggregate and cement to make the concrete.  In 1824, English engineer josephs Aspdin invented the Portland cement. Josephs Aspdin made first cement form burning ground lime and cay together. The burning process changed the chemical properties of the material and produce stronger cement.

Concrete is strong in compression and weak in tension. Iron or steel rods and other materials were embedded in to the concrete to improve the tension capacity of the concrete. This kind of concrete is called reinforced concrete. Concrete which is not used the reinforcement is named as mass concrete.

Concrete is a durable material which can last centuries. It is a great finding of the human being. Human make houses to have shelter and it is one of basic needs of mankind. Concrete is a very important material in that contest. Concrete one of widely used material in the world for the construction industry.