Concrete Calculator

A variety of coarse aggregates—particulate elements such sand, gravel, crushed stone, and slag—bound together with cement make up concrete. A compound called cement is used to bind materials, such aggregate, by sticking to them and gradually hardening. Although there are other varieties of cement, Portland cement is the most widely used kind and is a component of plaster, mortar, and concrete.

Concrete can be ordered in a variety of quantities, such as 60- or 80-pound bags, or it can be delivered in bulk by specialized concrete mixer trucks. For concrete to be uniformly strong, proper mixing is necessary. Water, aggregate, cement, and any other desired ingredients are mixed together. Since concrete is typically made as a viscous fluid, its production is time-sensitive and must be put before it hardens. For applications that need a quick set time, some concretes are even made to harden more quickly. As an alternative, precast concrete goods like concrete walls are sometimes made in factories by mixing concrete into dryer molds.

Once installed, concrete undergoes a long process known as curing, which hardens the concrete. Concrete can continue to strengthen for up to three years after reaching over 90% of its final strength, which usually takes four weeks. During the initial phases of curing, concrete strength can be increased by keeping it moist. This is accomplished by methods like ponding, which involves immersing concrete in water and covering it with plastic, and spraying concrete slabs with compounds that form a layer over the concrete that holds water.