Concrete is one of the most commonly used structural materials, and most buildings contain concrete in some shape or form.

The first 200 words of this essay...

GREY MATTER

Introduction

Concrete is one of the most commonly used structural materials, and most buildings contain concrete in some shape or form.

Concrete itself is simply a mixture of cement, aggregate and water, however making good concrete is far from simple.

Good concrete has to have a satisfactory compressive strength and durability in its hardened state, as well as being cohesive enough to be transported in its fresh state.

As with most subjects, technology and ideas about concrete are constantly advancing. Engineers are using new types of aggregate, and introducing other types of materials into concrete. There is now further demand for more high performance concrete, concrete that must stand up to the high temperatures of the areas in which it is now being used, or the loads under which it is being placed.

In our modern society everything has to be tested for safety, and concrete is no exception. Concrete has to be made to perform to set parameters and these have to be rigorously tested.

In my report, I aim to investigate the properties of concrete, and discover how these can be affected by the conditions under which it is