What if Concrete Mix Proportions of the Ingredients Go Wrong?
There are four ingredients of concrete, namely, cement, sand and pebbles. Let’s discuss the effect of the individual ingredients: • Cement: Cement provides strength to the concrete. So for obtaining more strength cement proportions can be increased, but excessive cement quantity could lead to cracking. • Aggregates and pebbles: Aggregates and pebbles provide strength to the concrete, but excessive use of pebbles will reduce the proportion of cement and thus will reduce the strength and increase the brittleness of the concrete. • Water: Water is very essential in a concrete mixture. Portland cement is a hydraulic type of cement (hardens with the reaction with water). Also, water will increase the flow ability of the concrete, but excess water content in the concrete will cause cracks. • Air: Tiny air bubbles actually provide extra room to the water molecules while freezing. Also air helps preventing crack formation in concrete.
