Density Requirements in Cement, Sand, and Aggregate for better Building Construction

Density is defined as mass per unit of substance volume of a substance i.e. unit weight of that respective substance. Line (p) denotes as symbolic form of Density .It describes as material compactness that means the higher the density of substance more compacted the material is.

Cement Density

1. Concrete density has increased its strength and durability. By doing this process density of cement has got least concern.

2. Cement act as binder in a concrete, knowing its density will be very useful to change the concrete characteristics. The standard density of Cement has 1440kg/m³.

Density of Sand

• Sand comprise in near about 35% concrete volumes. Careful mixing of cement, fine and coarse aggregates, water and admixtures produced to be good quality concrete.
• For the construction use, River sand also known as Natural sand has a bulk density of 1.71 kg/m³.
• M- Sand also known as Manufactured Sand is a prime alternative to Natural Sand which has the bulk density of 1.75kg/m³.

Density of Aggregate

Inert granular materials of non metallic substances such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone clusters in to Aggregates. Concrete obtained in the particles form and processed with water and Portland cement. It has two types, there are fine aggregate and coarse aggregate.

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Red Bricks Uses and Properties

Definition of Brick

Brick is a rectangular type of block that fired in a kiln or dried to the sun. It is used in various type of construction (small or big). Brick has two types, one is natural clay and another is sand.

Red Brick Uses and Properties

Red bricks are mostly used in the construction building. Here is the dilemma, how clay bricks are made and fired, differences in quality, different classes and strength, how to select a good brick for the building, and how they should be used on construction work?

What is the Strength of Red Brick?

The strength of red brick is very hard, dense and has been used for centuries as structural buildings, i.e. the red bricks produce the buildings structural strength. Red brick with no reinforcement supports roofs and floors that helped to build large buildings, churches, factories, and tall factory chimneys. This brick build lots of cities which is still surviving till now.

Red Brick Manufacturing

Red brick manufacturing has five key parts:

1. Manufactured clay mixture.

2. Compaction of clay in the mold.

3. Manufactured bricks 50% to 60% silica (sand), 20% to 30% alumina (clay), 2% to 5% lime, up to 7%to 6% iron oxide and 1% to 0.25% magnesia fired in a kiln.

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Types of reinforcement or mesh in several footings (foundations)

Different types of Reinforcement in footings or types of mesh used in foundation:-

Several types of reinforcement exist in footings. The reinforcement should be provided in footings for tension requirements. Normally, the percentage of reinforcement in footings should remain among 0.5% to 0.8%. Based on the load analysis, the structural engineer design the type of Mesh in footings. Given below, the details about he types of mesh (reinforcement) implemented at several types of footings or foundations.

Usually, four different types of reinforcement in footings or foundations are found :–

1. Plain Mesh: This type of Mesh is normally implemented at plain or isolated or combined footings. It is specifically useful for low-rise buildings. Prior to use plain mesh to high rise buildings, the load should be analyzed in accordance with this mesh and determine either the type of mesh is balanced with the load or not.

Under this type, bars are arranged as a grid. It may contain bars with various diameter and spacing in either direction. The spacing may or may not vary in both directions.

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Types of Concrete Mix Ratio Design and their Strengths

Concrete mix is known as mixing cement with sand, stone/aggregates and water into a paste form that can be used to bind the building materials together.

The right proportion of cement, sand, stones or aggregates mixing determines the concrete max strength. There is some variety of concrete available in the market based on these ratios like M10, M20, M30, M35.But people does not know differences of M10 or M20.

“Mix” is known as “M”. Concrete with designated proportions of cement, sand and aggregate is represented as mix. And the number following represents the compressive strength of that concrete mix in N/mm2 after 28 days is determined by number designated after “M”.

The concrete mix of M20 grade will determine 20 N/mm2 of compressive strength after 28 days.

Table of Concrete Mix Ratio

The table below shows variety of concrete mix design with their respective requirement ratios of cement, sand and aggregates.

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Method of silt content test

Sand is considered as one of the vital construction materials for concrete, plastering, brickwork and flooring. Therefore, it is always recommended to use standard quality sand in the construction works.

To check the quality of sand, silt content test should be conducted. Silt content stands for a fine material that is lower than 150 micron. It becomes unstable in the existence of water.

When silty sand is applied for bonding, the strength will be decreased and rework should be required. It is mostly found when the plastering is going on for roof where the plaster continuously peels off at the time of being plastered with the mortar.

Extreme quantity of silt decreases the bonding of cement and fine aggregates as well as hampers the strength and stability of work.

In the job site, it is required to carry out silt test for each 20 Cum of sand although it may differ.

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6 Stone Floors can help you to show off your beloved Homes

Each nature born stone piece has a specific quality and grain. Warmer climates homes are ideal for using this material due to hard and cool nature of these materials. Organic surface of these natural stone resists dust and allergenic organisms to make it safe and durable. Stone flooring flourish the choices from rough to smooth, porous to thick.

1. Marble

You want timeless and highly durable material then marble is a brilliant choice if you desire an ambience of both luxury and antique. Marble is durable and it has wide range of patterns and colors.

What to do or what not to do in Marble?

The larger sheets of marbles tend to be rather fragile due to nature of heaviness. While installing marble, use skillful labor.

If you want to avoid application breaking choose extra weight substrate. Marble Honing can achieve a resistant slip and easy cleaning texture. Scratch marks occurs in abrasive cleaning so avoid as much as possible.

2. Granite

Granite is a sharp edged stone with a gorgeous natural particle. Granite is used for both indoor and outdoor use for its resilience.

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Plain Cement Concrete: The Traditional Art of Making a Construction

The cement concrete with no reinforcement is called plain cement concrete known as Pcc. It is simple mixture of cement, sand and the suitable proportion of water.

It is occasionally called mass cement concrete or cement concrete.

It is very much stronger in compression but fragile in tension and shear.

Things needed of build Plain cement concrete:

1) Cement

• Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) is normally used cement in Plain Cement Concrete.
• It should have a suitable degree of fine quality.

Sand (Fine aggregate)

• The using sand should be solid, razor-sharp and angular.
• The size of sand should not be bigger than 5 mm.
• Sand should be liberated from dust, organic particles, etc.

3) Coarse aggregate

• It is simply known as aggregate.
• Using of aggregates should be liberated from dust, foreign materials and also tough to resist adequate stresses.
• Stone ballasts passed through the square sift of 20 mm and retained in the square sift of 5 mm are used as coarse aggregates.
• Aggregates should be well graded so that the voids do not exceed 42%.

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Using the Raft Foundation and Its Types in Construction

The raft foundation which is also known as Mat foundation is used in type of foundation system very commonly. The working principle of raft foundation discusses about choose raft, types of raft foundation, materials of raft foundation, raft construction steps etc.

Definition the Raft Foundation

Raft foundation is actually a substantial solid slab quiescent on a large area of soil reinforced with steel, supporting columns or walls and transfer loads from the structure to the soil. Usually, mat foundation is stretch over the entire area of the construction it is supporting.

Raft foundation of structures like residential or commercial buildings are supported where soil situation is poor, storage tanks, silos, foundations for heavy industrial equipment etc.

You have to understand important idea about when to use raft foundation.

How Raft Foundation Works

Raft foundation transmits the whole load from the building to the entire ground floor area. Stress distribution mechanism of raft foundation is not very hard. Whole weight of the structure and self-weight of the mat is calculated and is divided by the whole area of the foundation that is covering to calculate the pressure on the soil.

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