What Is Plain Cement Concrete?
Concrete has been used for several wonderful things throughout history, either for architecture or for infrastructure work and more. Although concrete is employed as construction material nowadays. There are two terms used on any construction site RCC (Reinforced Cement concrete) and PCC (Plain Cement Concrete) work.
Plain Cement Concrete (PCC)?
The term PCC refers to Plain Cement Concrete. a mix of cement, fine aggregate (sand) and coarse aggregate is usually called plain cement concrete (PCC).
Before starting any RCC masonry work directly on the excavated soil, the PCC is formed to make a flat surface and it’s avoided to stay the concrete perpendicular to the soil in order that the mixture is mixed with the soil and therefore the water removed by the PCC It also can be weakened to stop soil.
Plain cement concrete can only be called “cement concrete (CC)” or “binding concrete“. Some people also call it “Mud Mat“.
Ingredients of Plain Cement Concrete (PCC):
Following are main ingredients of plain cement concrete,
1. Coarse Aggregates:
The coarse aggregates utilized in PCC should be freed from hard dust, dirt and other foreign materials of granite or similar stone.
The stone ballast are going to be 20 mm in size and smaller. All coarse material should be maintained during a 5 mm square mesh and well graded in order that voids don’t exceed 42%.
2. Fine Aggregates:
The fine set shall contains coarse sand, consisting of hard, sharp and angular grains and shall undergo a 5 mm square mesh screen. The sand shall be of ordinary specifications, clean and free from dust, dirt and organic matter. Sea sand won’t be used.
3. Cement:
Portland Pozzolana Cement (P.P.C) is usually used for plain cement concrete. It should conform to the specifications and have the specified tensile and compressive stresses and fineness.
4. Water:
The water used are going to be clean and fairly free from harmful amounts of harmful materials like oil, acids, alkalis, salts and vegetable growth. Generally, potable water shall be used having a pH value not but 6. the utmost permissible limits for solids shall be as per IS 456:2000 Clause 5.4, Page No 15.
Methods for Mixing of Concrete:
Concrete production is that the process of blending different ingredients together — water, aggregate, cement and any additives to supply concrete. Concrete production is time sensitive.
Once the fabric is mixed, workers must place the concrete before it hardens. In modern usage, most concrete production occurs during a large sort of industrial facility called a concrete plant, or often a batch plant.
When it involves mixing concrete, the following three mixing of concrete methods are used for the assembly of effective and good quality concrete.
1. Hand Mixing of Concrete (Mixing concrete manually without a mixer machine)
Machine Mixing of Concrete (Mixing concrete with a mixer machine)
Ready Mix Concrete (Mixing in automatic or semi-automatic batching plant)
Different constructions require differing types of concrete admixture.
For efficient results, it’s necessary to use the acceptable method of blending concrete for specific use and application.
Several factors influence the tactic of concrete mixing, such as
Location of the development site with sufficient land for construction activities e.g. highly congested urban areas
Available space for concrete batching and mixing and storage of aggregates
The volume of concrete needed
The construction schedule just like the volume of concrete required per hour or per day
Height at which concrete is to be placed Cost
Let’s take an in depth check out each of the above mentioned three methods of concrete mixing.
