Properties of concrete

Concrete has relatively high compressive strength (resistance to breaking when squeezed), but significantly lower tensile strength (resistance to breaking when pulled apart). The compressive strength is typically controlled with the ratio of water to cement when forming the concrete, and tensile strength is increased by additives, typically steel, to create reinforced concrete. In other words we can say concrete is made up of sand (which is a fine aggregate), ballast (which is a coarse aggregate), cement (can be referred to as a binder) and water (which is an additive).

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