PEREIRA LAGORIA JULIO BENJAMIN

Trabajo práctico 5: PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE

Concrete has relatively high compressive strength (it doesn't crack under weight), but
significantly lower tensile strength (it cracks when being pulled). The compressive strength
is typically controlled with the ratio of water to cement when forming the concrete, and
tensile strength is increased by additives, typically steel, to create reinforced concrete. In
other words we can say concrete is made up of sand (which is a fine aggregate), balast
(which is a coarse aggregate), cement (can be referred to as a binder) and water (which is
an additive)

The practical implication of this is that concrete elements subjected to tensile stresses
must be reinforced with materials that are strong in tension (often steel). The elasticity of
concrete is relatively constant at low stress levels but starts decreasing at higher stress
levels as matrix cracking develops. Concrete has a very low coefficient of thermal
expansion, and as it matures concrete shrinks. All concrete structures will crack to some
extent, due to shrinkage and tension. Concrete which is subjected to long-duration forces
is prone to creep. The density of concrete varies, but is around 2,400 kilograms per cubic
metre (150 lb/cu ft).
Reinforced concrete is the most common form of concrete. The reinforcement is often
steel, rebar (mesh, spiral, bars and other forms). Structural fibers of various materials are
available. Concrete can also be prestressed (reducing tensile stress) using internal steel
cables (tendons), allowing for beams or slabs with a longer span than is practical with
reinforced concrete alone. Inspection of existing concrete structures can be non-
destructive if carried out with equipment such as a  r, which is sometimes used to estimate
relative concrete strengths in the field.
In very high-strength concrete mixtures the crushing strength of the aggregate can be
a limiting factor to the ultimate compressive strength. In lean concretes (with a high water-
cement ratio) the crushing strength of the aggregates is not so significant. The internal
forces in common shapes of structure, such as arches, vaults, columns and walls are
predominantly compressive forces, with floors and pavements subjected to tensile forces.
Compressive strength is widely used for specification requirement and quality control of
concrete. Engineers know their target tensile requirements and will express these in terms
of compressive strength.
Thermal conductivity.Concrete has moderate thermal conductivity, much lower than
metals, but significantly higher than other building materials such as wood, and is a poor
insulator.

Salginatobel Bridge, Switzerland.
Cracking.As concrete matures it continues to shrink, due to the ongoing reaction taking
place in the material, although the rate of shrinkage falls relatively quickly and keeps
reducing over time. The relative shrinkage and expansion of concrete and brickwork
require careful accommodation when the two forms of construction interface.
-41-

All concrete structures will crack to some extent. One of the early designers of reinforced
concrete, Robert Maillart, employed reinforced concrete in a number of arched bridges.
His first bridge was simple, using large volume of concrete. He then realized that much of
the concrete was very cracked, and could not be a part of the structure under compressive
loads, yet the structure clearly worked. His later designs simply removed the cracked
areas, leaving slender, beautiful concrete arches.
FUENTE : www.wikipedia.org.com.2018

ACTIVIDADES:
1.- Complete en español con información del texto

1.-Concrete is made up of…ARENA,BALASTO, CEMENTO Y AGUA

2.-Concrete elements must be reinforced with MATERIALES RESISTENTES A LA

TRACCIÓN (ACERO)

3.- Concrete can also be prestressed (reducing tensile stress) using…CABLES DE

ACERO INTERNOS

4.-The internal forces in common shapes of structure, such as arches, vaults, columns

and walls are predominantly…FUERZAS DE COMPRESIÓN, CON PISOS Y
PAVIMENTOS SUJETOS A FUERZAS DE TRACCIÓN

5.-Concrete has moderate thermal conductivity, MUCHO MÁS BAJA QUE LOS

METALES, PERO SIGNIFICATIVAMENTE MÁS ALTA QUE OTROS MATERIALES DE
CONSTRUCCIÓN COMO LA MADERA Y ES UN MAL AISLANTE.

2.-Responda en español.

1.- Does concrete crack under weight?

NO SE AGRIETA
2.- When does it crack?
AL TENER MENOR RESISTENCIA A LA TRACCIÓN SE AGRIETA CUANDO SE TIRA
3.- When does the elasticity of concrete start decreasing?
LA ELASTICIDAD DEL HORMIGÓN ES RELATIVAMENTE CONSTANTE A NIVELES
DE TENSIÓN BAJOS, PERO COMIENZA A DISMINUIR A NIVELES DE TENSIÓN MÁS
ALTOS A MEDIDA QUE SE DESARROLLA EL AGRIETAMIENTO
4.-How is the tensile strength of concrete increased?
LA RESISTENCIA A LA TRACCIÓN SE AUMENTA GENERALMENTE USANDO
ADITIVOS, EN SU MAYORÍA ES EL ACERO PARA FORMAR HORMIGÓN
REFORZADO
5.-What happens as concrete matures?
A MEDIDA QUE MADURA, CONTINÚA CONTRAYÉNDOSE, DEBIDO A LA REACCIÓN
CONTINUA QUE TIENE LUGAR EN EL MATERIAL.

3.- Realice una lectura comprensiva del texto. Luego escriba un resumen del mismo
en español.

● EL TEXTO NOS CUENTA CÓMO ES LA ESTRUCTURA DEL HORMIGÓN. ÉSTE

ESTÁ FORMADO POR ARENA, BALASTO, CEMENTO Y AGUA Y POSEE UNA
RESISTENCIA A LA COMPRESIÓN RELATIVAMENTE ALTA Y UNA
RESISTENCIA A LA TRACCIÓN SIGNIFICATIVAMENTE BAJA. PARA
AUMENTAR LA RESISTENCIA A LA TRACCIÓN, GENERALMENTE SE
UTILIZA ALGÚN ADITIVO COMO EL ACERO.
OTRAS DE LAS CARACTERÍSTICAS DEL HORMIGÓN SON, QUE SU
ELASTICIDAD ES RELATIVAMENTE CONSTANTE A NIVELES DE TENSIÓN
BAJOS, POSEE UN COEFICIENTE DE EXPANSIÓN TÉRMICO MUY BAJO, SU
DENSIDAD ES APROXIMADAMENTE DE UNOS 2400 KG POR METRO
CÚBICO, SE PUEDE PRETENSAR, TIENE UNA CONDUCTIVIDAD TÉRMICA
MODERADA, ES UN MAL AISLANTE, ETC.