When force is applied to a concrete member, this glue transfers compressive stresses from one aggregate to another. Due to the applied pull force, the glue which holds different constituents of concrete together will break. So under tension, this zone will act as a weak link and concrete will fail at a lower force.

Answer: Because it has essentially zero strength in tension, it is almost always used as reinforced concrete, a composite material. It is a mixture of sand, aggregate, cement and water.

Steel is equally strong in tension and compression. Steel is weak in fires, and must be protected in most buildings. Despite its high strength to weight ratio, steel buildings have as much thermal mass as similar concrete buildings.

In-fact Concrete is ten times stronger in compression than in tension. The reason lies in the composition structure of concrete: Concrete is made of a collection of materials (aggregates, cement, sand, water, air), which are glued together with a cement to form a monolithic structure.

The tension to compression ratio for concrete is about 10 to 15 percent. That is, it can withstand about 10 times the pushing force or compression of the pulling force or tension.

The compressive strength of concrete can be increased by:

1. Including admixtures.
2. Adjusting the cement type and quantity.
3. Reducing the water/cement ratio.
4. Utilizing supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)
5. Altering the aggregates – type and gradations.

24 to 48 hours – after inital set, forms can be removed and people can walk on the surface. 7 days – after partial curing, traffic from vehicles and equipment is okay. 28 days – at this point, the concrete should be fully cured.

7 days

Allow the concrete to cure for one day before constructing your deck or placing heavy weight on the footing (if standard concrete mix was used, wait about 3 days to begin construction).

This includes clearing out debris and trees, leveling out the lot where the house will go, and pouring the foundation. A month is about average for this step. Framing the house and building the roof – Framing usually takes about two months, but bad weather can delay things here.

28 days

Backfill refers to the material used to refill an excavated hole, and it is typically used to strengthen and support a structure’s foundation while also promoting better water drainage. Stone is a great choice for backfill because it’s durable and offers great drainage; however, some stones work better than others.

Do not use tar. Tar will become very brittle and will crack eventually. Do not use plastic to waterproof your basement walls. The plastic-like material will peel, and moisture will make its way in.

8 Ways to Protect Your Home’s Foundation

1. Inspect the perimeter of your home.
2. Make sure the ground slopes away from your foundation.
3. Check for water pooling near your foundation.
4. Keep track of changes around your property.
5. Clean and inspect your gutters.
6. Inspect your downspouts.
7. Monitor foliage near your home.
8. Water your foundation during the summer.

How to Protect Your Foundation with Proper Landscaping

1. Grade your landscape the right way.
2. Position large trees away from your foundation.
3. Improve your gutter system and extensions.
4. Landscape every side of your house foundation.
5. Mulch your flower beds.
6. Consider creating a swale.
7. Plan concrete structures carefully.

Gravel Beds Help To Prevent Overgrown Weeds Having gravel beds around the foundations of your house is one of the most cost-effective methods of preventing overgrown weeds and shrubs, and possibly soil mounds, from infiltrating the building.

clay soil