ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE

Concrete is considered as a chemically combined mass where the inert material acts as a filler and the binding materials act as a binder. The most important binding materials are cement and lime. Inert materials used in concrete are termed as aggregates. Most common aggregates are sand, brick chips, stone chips, gravels, shells etc. The concrete plays a very important role in all branches of civil engineering.

Concrete is an inexpensive, quick and durable way to complete many construction projects. However, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with this material. For example, while concrete becomes stronger and more durable with time, it is susceptible to water and freezing temperatures, meaning that water can seep into cracks and cause damage to the concrete.

There are many benefits associated with using concrete in construction projects including the fact that the material can be molded into any shape and used for just about any function. If it is reinforced with steel, concrete can also be used to create solid, earthquake-proof structures. Repairs are easily done by spraying additional material onto the concrete or filling in cracks and divots with new material. The material can also be used in hard-to-reach locations.

Concrete is porous, which makes it susceptible to staining and molding issues. For this reason, many concrete slabs are finished much like granite. This is especially true if the material is used indoors. Concrete expands and contracts along with moisture and temperature conditions, making it possible for cracks to form if the concrete is not laid using proper contraction joints. The material is also heavy, which makes it impractical for some jobs.

Advantages of Concrete

The following are the advantages of concrete :

1. Availability of concrete ingredients easily.
2. Easy handling and moulding of concrete into any shape.
3. Easy transportation from the place of mixing to place of casting before initial set takes place.
4. Ability to pump/spray to fill into cracks and lining of tunnels.
5. When reinforced, all types of the structures are made possible from an ordinary lintel to massive fly overs
6. Monolithic character gives better appearance and much rigidity to the structure.
7. The property of concrete to possess high compressive strength, makes a concrete structure more economical than that of steel structure.

Disadvantages of Concrete

The following are the disadvantages of concrete :

1. Due to low tensile strength, concrete is required to be reinforced to avoid cracks.
2. In long structures expansion joints are required to be provided if there is large temperature variance in the area.
3. Construction joints are provided to avoid cracks due to drying shrinkage and moisture-expansion.
4. Soluble salts in concrete cause efflorescence if moisture reacts with them.
5. Concrete made with ordinary Portland cement, gets integrated in the presence of alkalies, sulfates etc.
6. Sustained loads develop creep in structures.