Different types of Ready Mix Concrete are designed for different -2 purposes and understanding these variations can make a significant difference in the outcome of your construction project.
- Normal Strength Concrete (Grade M10, M15, M20): These are most general used concrete
Best Applications for these are:
Foundation construction (for low-rise structures)
Footpaths, sidewalks, and pavements
Non-structural components
Why Use It: Normal Strength Concrete is economical and ideal for applications where the strength requirement is not that critical. It’s perfect for creating plain, non-load-carrying structures.
- High Strength Concrete (Grade M25 and Higher): It is formulated for use in applications in structural work where superior load carring capacity is crucial.
Its Composition: Higher proportion of cement to aggregates.
Use of high-quality aggregates and strength-enhancing admixtures.
Best Uses: High-rise buildings, flyovers, and bridges Structural elements such as slabs, beams, and columns Dams and other heavy engineering works
Why Use It: If your project demands more wear and tear resistance concrete, high strength concrete is the best choice. It is designed to withstand heavy loads, so it is ideal for high-performance buildings.
- Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC)
What It Is: Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is a very flowable concrete that can flow and fill molds or formwork by its own weight without mechanical vibration. It’s designed to be applied in complicated or dense reinforcement zones where normal concrete can’t flow into tight spaces.
Composition:
Special admixtures such as superplasticizers to increase flowability and reduce the amount of water used.
Higher workability and controlled mix designs.
Best Uses:
Complicated reinforced structures
High-finish finishes (i.e., finished surfaces of exposed concrete, architectural elements)
Restricted access areas or hard-to-reach locations
Why Use It: SCC is best when you wish to ensure the concrete fills all nooks and crannies without vibration. It’s usually used in architectural concrete and buildings where accuracy and appearance are essential.
- Lightweight Concrete
What It Is: Lightweight Concrete is a blend where normal aggregates are replaced with lightweight aggregates, such as expanded clay, shale, or pumice. This reduces the overall weight of the concrete, and therefore it is most suitable for uses where reducing structural weight is most essential.
Composition: Lightweight aggregates mixed with cement, sand, and water.
May also contain special additives to increase its durability against heat and sound.
Optimum Uses: Roof decks and insulation applications
Precast concrete elements (e.g., blocks, slabs, panels)
Structures where weight reduction is essential, such as bridges and precast elements
Why Use It: Lightweight Concrete is ideal when you need to reduce the load on a building foundation without compromising strength or durability. It also proves useful in providing thermal insulation.
- High-Performance Concrete (HPC)
What It Is: High-Performance Concrete (HPC) is concrete designed to be stronger, more resilient, and simpler to work with in tough conditions. It is produced for areas where regular concrete cannot hold up, such as under heavy chemical usage, severe weather, or heavy traffic weight.
Composition:
Is a mixture of high-strength cement, ground minerals, additives, and other tough ingredients.
Generally mixed with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like fly ash, slag, or silica fume to enhance durability.
Best Applications:
Roadway and bridge structures subject to intensive traffic loads
Maritime structures exposed to harsh weather or saltwater
Foundations exposed to harsh weather or chemically aggressive environments
Why Use It: When you’re working with environments that experience a lot of wear and tear, or when you’re constructing infrastructure that needs to withstand harsh conditions for decades, HPC provides long-term strength and higher durability.
- Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (FRC)
What It Is: Fiber-Reinforced Concrete incorporates fibers (e.g., steel, glass, or man-made fibers) into the mix of concrete to make it stronger, more durable, and less prone to cracks. Fibers spread loads within the material, improving the resistance of the concrete to impact and cracking.
Composition: Plain concrete mix with the addition of fiber components.
Selection of a particular type of fiber is based on performance and strength to be gained.
Best Uses:
Industrial floors with heavy equipment
Driveways and pavements with additional cracking resistance
Precast concrete items like pipes and panels
Why Use It: Fiber-Reinforced Concrete is ideal if you need higher tensile strength of the concrete and reduced likelihood of cracking. It’s also widely used on areas that have high mechanical load or impact stresses.
- Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC)
What It Is: Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) is a stiff, dry mix of concrete that is compacted by heavy rollers to create strong, durable surfaces. It does not need conventional formwork or finishing, which makes it quicker and more cost-effective for some kinds of infrastructure projects.
Composition: Low water content compared to other concretes.
Roller-compacted mix of aggregates.
Best Uses: Roads, pavements, and parking lots Dams and embankments
Heavy industrial floors
Why Use It: RCC is appropriate for large, high-strength surfaces that don’t need fine finishing. It’s commonly used in roads, pavements, and other large-scale civil engineering projects.
