concrete structures
Concrete results from the mixture of cement, water and additives that improve the mechanical qualities of the material; moldable with adhesive properties in its initial state, the concrete finally acquires, upon setting, a stone consistency.
The most notable structural property of concrete is its resistance to compressive forces; On the other hand, it does not have good behavior against traction, bending and shear stresses; To make up for this mechanical deficiency, concrete is usually reinforced with steel. The strength of the concrete is obtained by compression fracture tests on cylindrical specimens taken at 28 days, as established in the Spanish Structural Concrete Instruction [EHE] and Basic Foundation Document of the Technical Building Code [CTE DB SE-C ]. Other notable properties of concrete are that it is a durable, non-combustible, almost waterproof material and suitable for achieving a wide variety of structural geometries. Its classification is standardized in article 39.2 of the EHE.
The constructive applications of concrete are generalized to various solutions in engineering and architectural works, and as a support material that is essential for use in the foundations of structures solved with other structural materials such as steel or wood.
The categorization of concrete is frequently systematized into the following classes: Ordinary, Reinforced Mass, Prestressed, Cyclopean, without Fines, Aerated or Cellular and High Density
