What is Mortar? Mortar is a paste (capable of setting and hardening) made with cement, and water or with lime, surkhi, and water. Cement & lime are binding materials utilized in the making of mortar. Sand and surkhi give strength to the mortars. It also prevented more cracking due to…
Important Questions and Answers on Building Repair Part-5
What are the Important Factors to be Considered in Building Repairs? More than technical consideration there are some factors like honesty, trust, and faith that are the most important. The Consultant, the Contractor, and the person in charge must be honest. The occupants must have trust in them as well…
Important Questions and Answers on Building Repair Part-4
How do we Determine that Rusted Steel Bars in Concrete need to be Replaced due to Excessive Rusting? After removal of rust scales and cleaning the reinforcement steel of old concrete, the area of the steel is measured. If the cross-sectional area reduction observed on main bars has reduced by…
Important Questions and Answers on Building Repair Part-3
What Steps or Procedures are to be Followed in Concrete/Masonry Repairs? The defective (cracked) portion of the concrete or plaster has to be removed taking care that good concrete or plaster is not unnecessarily damaged or chipped off along with the defective portion. During the repairs, structural load carrying members,…
Important Questions and Answers on Building Repair Part-2
What is the next step for Building Repairs – Financial Provision? After you have appointed a reliable Consultant and obtained an estimate, the next step is to collect funds. Generally, repair works are extremely difficult to estimate as the extent of repairs is fully known only when you remove the…
What are Different Tests for Concrete Quality Check?
Different Quality tests on concrete are performed as a part of quality control of the concrete structures. Concrete quality tests such as slump tests, compressive strength tests, permeability tests, etc. are used to assure the concrete quality that is supplied for a given specification. All these different tests on quality…
Quality Control of Concrete Works
The reason for having quality control (QC) is to assure that the requirements and intent of the project, plans, specifications are completely accomplished. National development and progress depend to a large extent on essential infrastructures, such as housing, power, industry, roads, communication system, bridges, airports, seaports, etc. these infrastructural developments…
Benefits and Detrimental Effects of Fly Ash in Concrete
What are the benefits and constraints of fly ash in concrete? Key benefits Reduced water demand Increased workability Improve permeability Improve durability Low heat of hydration Constraints Reduced early strength Longer curing The major beneficial effect of fly ash in concrete is based on its physical properties. Filler effect Fly…
What is Fly Ash? Physical and Chemical Properties of Fly Ash
What is Fly Ash? Fly ash, a byproduct from coal-based thermal power plants, is abundantly available in India. Estimates show that more than 100 million tons of fly ash are produced annually from around 83 major coal-based power stations. A small fraction of this is fruitfully utilized. Fly ash is…
Cold Weather Concrete – Objective, Principles, and General Provisions for Cold Weather Concreting
Cold weather is determined as a period when for greater than three consecutive days, the undermentioned conditions exist: Average daily air temperature is less than 5oC. Air temperature isn’t greater than 10oC for more than 1/2 of any 24-hour period. The average daily air temperature is the average of the…
