Big Ideas
The benefits of using concrete.
What is high compressive strength, non-combustible, easily accessible, affordable, does not rot, and continuity and large sizes possible?
The three main components of concrete.
What is aggregate, cement, and water?
The time it takes for concrete to harden.
What is curing time?
An addition to concrete mix that makes it stronger and more water resistant.
What is fly ash?
The main way concrete impacts the environment.
What is nonrenewable energy consumption and its associated global warming potential, primarily C02?
The cons of using concrete.
What is heavy, conductive, environmentally bad news, labor costs for form and finish work?
The primary (steel) component used for reinforcement.
What is rebar?
The result of separation due to too much vibration.
What are rock pockets?
The process of strengthening concrete by adding steel.
What is reinforcement?
Three ways concrete can be exploited to minimize environmental impacts.
What is pervious construction, photocatalytic agents, and thermal massing?
The way in which the size of aggregate affects the concrete’s characteristics.
What is the larger the aggregate the less cement and water needed?
The purpose of adding admixture (ex. superplasticizer).
What is to increase certain desirable qualities within the concrete by adding chemicals/ and or physical additives?
An exothermic process between cement and water that leads to hardening.
What is hydration?
The reason why steel pairs well with concrete.
What is steel resists tensile forces very well?
Why lighter colored concrete is more sustainable.
What is the lighter color reflects more solar radiation thereby reducing the urban heat island effect?
The effect of the water-cement ratio on the strength of concrete.
What is the higher the water content the weaker the concrete?
The purpose of using a vibrator.
What is to eliminate air bubbles in the concrete, packing the aggregate together and thereby increasing the strength of the concrete>
What happens when excessive floating is performed.
What is an excess of cement paste and free water (water not required for cement to fully hydrate) comes to the surface and forms puddles, making it difficult to achieve the desired finish?
The way post tensioning differs from pre tensioning, and its purpose.
What is the process of applying tension to the steel reinforcement after the concrete has been poured versus before it has been poured, thereby increasing concrete's compressive strength particularly where it is anticipated it will be loaded allowing for a thinner pour?
The part of the production process that consumes the largest share of energy (over 85% of the energy in the entire concrete construction process).
What is the production of portland cement?
What is concrete has no useful tensile strength?
The reason vertical dowels are inserted into the footings.
What is to ensure strong structural connection to the walls?
The definition and purpose of a slump test.
What is a test that may be performed at the time of pouring to determine if the desired degree of workability has been achieved without making the concrete too wet?
The difference between mat slab and slab on grade foundations.
What is mat slabs are intended to carry very heavy loads (often from columns) and are extensively reinforced while slab on grade foundations are intended to carry lighter loads and are thus not as intensely reinforced?
What is you must build (usually wooden) formwork, add steel reinforcement, and then pour concrete?