Increasing the dead weight of your concrete 1

[graduatequestions]

Does anyone know of a way to cheaply increase the weight of concrete?

Its not a strength issue so I don't want to increase the grade or anything. Are there certain aggregates that increase the weight without affecting the grade?

Any help would be appreciated!

...apologies, i initially posted this in the civil engineering section

 

[JedClampett]

You can use metallic aggregates to increase the density of concrete. It used to be done in the Nuclear design business to reduce thickness when concrete was used for shielding only.
As I remember, the contractors didn't like it because 1) It wore out their mixers and 2) It wasn't what they usually did.
If you do a google search for high density concrete, I'm sure you'll get a lot of information.

 

[dik]

You can use Barite aggregate which is pretty dense. For counterweight material, I've often (3 times) used scrap steel 'punching plugs' from a steel fabricator to increase the density.

Dik

 

[RonRoberts]

Drop a couple of architects in the mix ;-)

 

[Ron]

RonRoberts...good suggestion, problem is you have to account for the massive volume of their big heads....a dangerous mix of air and ego.

 

[msquared48]

Gold is heavy, but expensive. Won't rust though...

Then again, this is an opportunity to secure your investment...

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[dik]

Ron... wouldn't the denseness improve the mass? Just curious.

Dik

 

[graduatequestions]

haha, i think architect aggregate might have a future...!

Cheers for the suggestions guys, i'll get looking at Barite & metal aggregates.

Dik, out of interest, what sort of job was it you used the scrap steel on? Was it just cast in the concrete?

 

[civilperson]

Concrete ballast in ships uses pieces of rebar for large aggregate.

 

[Ron]

dik...you're right...didn't think about that...was only looking at the vacuum

 

[dik]

not the deleterious stuff?

Dik

 

[jhardy1]

Q: What do you have when you find an architect embedded up to his neck in your concrete pour?

A: Insufficient concrete

Q: What do you have when you find an architect who is fully embedded in your concrete pour?

A: A good start

 

[msquared48]

Works for Lawyers too.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[kslee1000]

Flyash maybe a good candidate. Is it still cheap?

 

[msquared48]

Is he a Lawyer or an Architect?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[kslee1000]

Both were under the pile, heavy, dense, and both wore gold, rust free.

 

[Prepakt1]

For nuclear high density Google Intrusion prepakt /hanford reactor. Proceedures are described in detail. You could use a variation.Its a long way from cheap.

Intrusion Prepakt /marineconcrete.com

 

[SteveWag]

I have used Dolomite when available, give about 10% if I remember,
Steve