Little facts you didn’t know about concrete

Date:November 6, 2003 / year-entry #119
Tags:news-flash;non-computer
Orig Link:https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20031106-00/?p=41933
Comments:    7
Summary:Concrete is stronger once it has hardened. Thanks, Associated Press! I learn something new every day.

Concrete is stronger once it has hardened. Thanks, Associated Press! I learn something new every day.


Comments (7)
  1. Jim Duncan says:

    Ok, so maybe they didn’t do that great a job explaining the curing process of concrete. Could send ’em a few links, I suppose….

    All about concrete: http://www.rosepaving.com/concrete.htm
    Hoover Dam, still getting stronger: http://www.trmca.org/solutions/faq11.htm

  2. quanta says:

    ‘Tis true, I heard that the concrete in the Roman viaducts are incredibly strong, having cured for two millennia.

    P.S. The same applies to crazy glue too. While 60-70% of strength is achieved in a matter of minutes, it takes 24-48 hours to reach optimal strength. Don’t you love inversely proportional models?

  3. Tom says:

    This week’s "New Yorker" has an article about concrete and cement that, of course, mentions the Hoover dam. You might find it interesting, Jim.

  4. yousef says:

    In other news, steel has been found to be weaker when molten. :)

  5. Pete Austin says:

    Concrete releases CO2 when its cement is produced, but absorbs it as the concrete cures.

    "Basic eco-cement produces about a tenth as much carbon dioxide as regular Portland cement. When organic material such as hemp fibre is added, a concrete block can be built that is a net carbon sink. In other words, a building can be made to function like a tree"
    http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,964160,00.html

  6. pdq says:

    I would expect the alkalinity of the concrete to degrade the hemp over time. I wouldn’t want to rely on hemp instead of steel to add tensile strength to concrete.

  7. Molten rock makes volcano glow red.

Comments are closed.


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