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Properties of Hardened Concrete
Fully cured, hardened concrete must be strong enough to withstand the structural and service loads which will be applied to it and must be durable enough to withstand the environmental exposure for which it is intended. When concrete is made with high-quality materials and is properly proportioned, mixed, handled, placed, and finished, it is one of the strongest and most durable of building materials. When we refer to concrete strength, we are generally talking about compressive strength which is measured in pounds per square inch (psi). Concrete is strong in compression but relatively weak in tension and bending. It takes a great deal of force to crush concrete, but very little force to pull it apart or cause bending cracks (Figure 1). Compressive strength is determined primarily by the amount of cement used but is also affected by the ratio of water to cement, as well as proper mixing, placing, and curing. Tensile strength usually ranges from 7 or 8% of compressive strength in high-strength mixes to 11 or 12% in low-strength mixes. Both tensile strength and flexural bending strength can be increased by adding steel or fiber reinforcement.
Construction element | Compressive strength Mpa |
Basement and foundation walls slabs | 20 t0 25 |
Driveways, garage slab | 20 t0 25 |
Reinforced concrete beams, slabs, patios, sidewalks and steps | 20 to 25 |