Carpentry & Building ConstructionChapter 8:
Concrete as a Building MaterialChapter SummariesSection 8.1 Concrete Basics
Concrete is one of the most common and important construction materials. It is made by mixing cement, fine aggregate (usually sand), coarse aggregate (usually gravel or crushed stone), and water in the proper proportions. Concrete hardens through a chemical process called hydration. Section 8.2 Working with Concrete
The proportion of water to cement in a batch of concrete is extremely important in determining its strength. Concrete can be made on site from pre-mixed dry ingredients or from ingredients bought separately. It can also be ordered ready-mixed from a concrete supplier. When steel reinforcing is added to concrete, the resulting material combines compressive strength with tensile strength. Reinforcing materials come in several forms, including steel rods, welded-wire fabric, and synthetic fibers.  | 
