Concrete Has Made History !

CE 3420 Concrete Technology

Prof. Ravindra Gettu
IIT Madras
Concrete has been used in a wide
variety of applications for more
than 120 years

• To provide shelter
• To facilitate transportation (rigid pavements, b
• To store water (dams and canals)
• To protect cities (e.g. barrier being put in NY
• To treat waste
• To express artistic values
Cleft Ridge Span
Prospect Park,
Brooklyn
1872

Cast-on-site elements
were erected by stone
masons.

“Concrete is treated as
artificial stone. However,
can be moulded.”
Glenfinnan Viaduct
Scotland
1897

380 m long & has 21 spans.

Constructed with mass concrete.
“Concrete is strong in compression.”
“Structures can be cast
monolothically.”
Ford Parkway Bridge
Minneapolis/St. Paul, USA
1927
Three main spans are about 100 m long.
“Reinforced concrete leads to slender structures.”
 Bridges across the Teesta
River
Darjeeling
1933, 1941

Arch bridges with 90 m span

and 15 m rise, and 82 m
span and 40 m rise,
respectively.

“Geography and terrain do

not limit the use of
concrete.”

Ajay Krishnan, 2010

 Edison houses
Union, New
Jersey
1908

Mass-produced concrete housing units developed by Thomas Alva

Edison. Houses were cast in iron moulds (within 6 hours). Forms
were removed after 6 days and the house was then ready for
finishing.

“Repetitive use of concrete is highly cost-effective.”

“Concrete can be tailored to have early strength.”
Ingalls Building
Cincinnati
1902

First reinforced concrete skyscraper, 64 m

high, with 16 stories. (Up until that time no
concrete building taller than 2 stories had
been constructed.)

“Economy and safety with concrete.”

Buffalo Bill Dam
Wyoming
1910

One of the first large and

tall arch dams.

“Concrete is ideal for

large massive
structures.”
“Concrete can be
fabricated practically
anywhere.”
Panama Canal
Isthmus of Panama
1939

80 km canal cost $380 million in

1907. Has 12 locks, 304 m long and
34 m wide – used 3.4 million m3 of
concrete.
“The World moves on concrete.”
Concrete pipes
Ontario, Canada
1920s
Pipe withstood load of 21,300 kg.
(Traditional load tests were
performed by weights – sand
bags.)
“Concrete is essential in water
supply.”
“Concrete inspires confidence.”
Wayne County road
Detroit
1909
First mile of concrete highway.
Was observed with curiosity by
road builders at that time.
“Concrete has long been used
in road construction and
paving.”
Traditional Applications of Concrete

• Bridges and viaducts

• Houses and large buildings

• Dams

• Canals

• Roads and pavements

Why has concrete been so popular ?

• Can be fabricated practically anywhere.

• Can be moulded and cast into a wide

range of shapes and geometries.

• Is relatively cheap.