Concrete is a simple mixture of cement, aggregate and water. Concrete is the most important building material in the construction industry. Due to its unmatched strength and durability, uses of concrete has significantly improved our quality of life. From the houses we live in to the roads we drive on, concrete is everywhere and will remain here for years to come.
Concrete can be cast into any shape and size. This characteristic of concrete has increased the rapid growth of precast concrete materials with new products being introduced all the time. People use precast concrete materials because it builds things faster and with better quality control.
A common misconception is that the applications of concrete are limited to building construction. However, this flexible material finds uses in a wide range of structures, from bases for offshore wind turbines to decorative exterior walls on buildings.
1. Uses of Concrete for Building Construction
Concrete is one of the most important building material which is used in the construction of small to big buildings. Without concrete, one cannot even think of constructing a building. Concrete is used to lay the solid foundation that supports the entire building weight.
Concrete is used in each and every section of building, whether it’s superstructure or substructure. Due to its high strength, availability, and price it is the most preferred building material worldwide.
2. Precast Concrete Materials
Precast building materials are prefabricated concrete elements which are manufactured in factory in controlled system. Unlike traditional cast-in-place concrete poured directly on-site, precast components are fully cured to develop their full strength before being transported to the construction site for use.
Precast materials are made using concrete, which are often reinforced with steel rebar for additional strength in specific members. The modern construction industry heavily depends on precast elements because the quality can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of each project.
Common precast building materials made using concrete:
- Wall Panels: These are large, rigid panel sections just like our wall, which are mostly used for exterior walls.
- Precast Beams: Solid, reinforced concrete beams that supports floor.
- Precast Column: Just like beams, precast columns are also used to support the beams and slab.
- Precast Slab: Readymade precast slabs are generally used for construction of small units.
3. Use of Concrete in Road Construction
Concrete is widely used material for road constructions. Nowadays concrete is widely even for driveways and parking lot construction rather than bitumen/ asphalt due to its several benefits.
Roads made from concrete are extreme durable and can withstand heavy traffic. The life span of concrete roads on an average is between 20 – 40 years based on the usage of the roads which is 2-3 times greater than the bitumen roads.
4. Waterways
Water bodies that are used for transportation, irrigation or flood control measures are called as waterways. Rivers, canals, dams and reservoirs are the most common examples of waterways.
Concrete is used for constructing these waterways due to its properties such as water-resistance, strength and durability. As the waterways deals with water the inherent properties of concrete makes it ideal to withstand constant flow of water and other natural forces that can compromise other construction materials over time.
5. Construction of Seawall
Seawall is vertical structure same like a wall in our house which is constructed along a coastline to protect the area or land from flooding and erosion caused by waves, tides and storms.
Steel-reinforced concrete along is used for the construction of seawalls due to its exceptional strength and resistance to corrosive effects of salt water.
6. Bridge
Bridge is one of the most important way of transportation. As the construction of bridge is done mostly over the water bodies such as sea and lake, the bridge should not require frequent maintenance and should last for longer time. Hence concrete is best suited material for the bridge construction as it satisfies all the purpose.
The concrete is not alone material which is used for bridge construction. Other materials such as steel, wire ropes etc are also used along with concrete.
While steel may be preferred for some cases or suspension bridge types, concrete remains the go-to material for the majority of bridge construction due to its combination of strength, durability, cost-effectiveness and longer lifespan.
7. Tunnel
Tunnels are underground passage which are constructed by drilling through surrounding earth. Concrete is heavily used in the construction of tunnels. Especially tunnel linings which provide structural support to withstand ground and water pressure acting of tunnel from surrounding earth.
8. Concrete in Military Applications
Use of concrete in various military applications is not a new thing. Being strong and durable, it is mostly preferred for various applications listed below.
Bunkers : Concrete is used to build strong and protective military structures like bunkers, command centers, and missile silos. It is used as shield against explosions and attacks.
Barriers and Barricades – Precast concrete barriers, walls, and other defensive fortifications are commonly used to control access and provide security perimeters.
9. Agriculture
Concrete has also found its way to be accepted in agricultural industry. Concrete is commonly used to construct sturdy and long-lasting barns, silos, grain storage facilities, livestock pens, and other agricultural buildings.
Concrete is also used to line canals and other irrigation channels to efficiently transport water to crops and fields.
Concrete is used to create durable fence posts and other support structures to enclose and partition farmland, pastures, and livestock pens.
10. Airport
Concrete is an important construction material used extensively in the construction of airports and its related infrastructure.
Common uses of concrete in airport include:
- Runways and Taxiways
- Aprons and Parking Areas
- Terminal Buildings
- Hangars and Support Facilities
- Drainage and Utilities
What Are Some Innovative Applications of Concrete?
Besides the common traditional uses of concrete, more innovative applications have been discovered. By customizing the properties of concrete, it can be used for unique applications.
Some of the innovative applications of concrete include:
- Noise Barriers: Concrete structure for reducing sound transmission.
- 3d Printing: Concrete based 3d printing of structures.
- Energy Storage Units: Concrete-based solutions for storing energy.
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation: Concrete applications to reduce urban heat islands effect.
1. Noise Barriers
Tall walls constructed to block unwanted sound in areas such as crowded roads, railways or industrial areas are called noise barriers. Noise barriers can absorb, disperse or reflect sound waves depending on their purpose, aiming to reduce the noise level that disturbs nearby communities.
The solid and non-porous surface of concrete absorbs sound energy instead of letting it bounce back. This makes concrete much better at reducing noise as compared to other materials like wood or metal that may still allow some sound to pass through.
2. 3d Printing
3D printing is a new technology that allows you to make three-dimensional objects by building them up layer-by-layer using a special printer. This process is being used with concrete to create all types of unique structures and designs.
3. Energy Storage Units
Did you know that concrete can be used to store energy? Engineers have developed a new type of energy storage system made entirely from concrete. These concrete-based units can store excess electricity or thermal energy and then release it when needed.
To learn more about concrete energy storage units, check out the article “Thermal Energy Storage in Concrete” on ScienceDirect.
4. Urban Heat Island Mitigation
Urban areas are hotter than their surrounding rural or suburban areas due to a phenomenon called the urban heat island effect. This effect is primarily caused by the high concentration of buildings and roads, often constructed with materials like bitumen, which absorb, trap, and radiate heat.
The use of concrete helps reduce this effect because the light color of concrete reflects sunlight more effectively than dark-colored materials such as asphalt. Therefore, concrete should be favored in urban areas for the construction of roads, sidewalks, and other infrastructure to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
What Are Some Artistic Applications of Concrete?
Concrete is no doubt the best material in the construction industry, but it can also be used to create artistic structures. Being flexible, concrete can take any shape if properly molded, making it a great choice for constructing artistic structures.
1. Furniture
Nowadays, people are becoming more creative with the uses of concrete. Concrete is being used to make modern furniture pieces which last long and at the same time give an appealing look to your home.
2. Fountains
The flexibility of concrete makes it ideal for crafting stylish water features. Its durability and water resistance properties enable designers to create appealing and enduring fountain structures.
3. Sculptures
Concrete is one of the most loved materials among sculptors. No doubt, stone is heavily used for making sculptures, but the trend is slowly changing. Concrete offers more advantages over stone for big outdoor projects. Sculptors are switching to concrete over stone for making beautiful sculptures as it’s cheap, tough and durable. The use of concrete for making sculptures is less time-consuming than stone.