Contrary to popular belief, concrete mixing ratios are not determined by a 3 shovels to 1 shovel ratio.
But how many shovels of cement are needed for the concrete?
It’s true that the ingredients are added to the mixer using a shovel (or bucket), but a shovel of gravel is much heavier than a shovel of cement. It would be odd to measure water with a shovel, wouldn’t it?
Inaccurate shoveling or poorly defined amounts of cement can be very costly. Either you use too much cement, which is very expensive, or your concrete will not be durable, and you’ll have to redo it, which is even more costly. Accurate determination of concrete mixing ratios is more important than ever.
So, it’s in your best interest to spend 15 minutes setting the correct concrete mixing ratios before starting the job, and you can do this very easily.
It is advisable to determine the concrete mixing ratio based on weight, even though the weight of gravel can vary per cubic meter due to its water content. So, how many kilograms of each component should be used?
For measuring, you’ll need at least a basic personal scale.
With this, you can weigh a bucket to determine its weight. Then, you can measure the cement, gravel, and water into it, and subtract the weight of the bucket.
Accurately determining the amount of water is also crucial when setting the concrete mixing ratio. To improve the ease of working with the concrete, it is common to use a higher water dosage. However, this not only reduces the strength of the concrete but also its durability, which is a waste of money. If no other additives are used, a water-cement ratio of 0.6-0.7 may be appropriate. This means that for every 10 kg of cement, you should add 6-7 liters of water.
What I’m describing here isn’t set in stone, but it will definitely work well.
For a base layer, C10/12 strength class concrete is typically required, but I would prefer to use C16/20 instead.
In a one-wheelbarrow mixer, which produces about 50 liters of concrete:
Use 7-8 liters of water
12 kg of cement
60 kg of gravel
For indoor concrete and reinforced concrete structures, a C25/30 strength class is recommended.
In a one-wheelbarrow mixer, which produces about 50 liters of concrete:
Use 8-9 liters of water
14 kg of cement
56 kg of gravel
For outdoor load-bearing concrete structures, such as driveways, C35 concrete is recommended.
In a one-wheelbarrow mixer, which produces about 50 liters of concrete for C35:
Use 10-11 liters of water
16 kg of cement
54 kg of gravel
Instead of using rebar mesh, use ArmoTec structural macrofibers. Make concreting simpler and more cost-effective!
Structural macrofibers offer numerous advantages over rebar mesh:
- Three-Dimensional Reinforcement: They reinforce the concrete in all three dimensions, at every single point, whereas rebar mesh only provides reinforcement in one plane.
- Eliminates Shrinkage Cracks: Macrofibers reduce shrinkage cracks to zero, preventing minor and major cracks from forming during the curing process, resulting in much more durable concrete.
- Significantly Speeds Up Construction: Macrofibers replace the processes associated with rebar mesh, thus accelerating the construction.
- Enhances Safety: They eliminate accidents related to the use of rebar, making the work process safer.
- Easy to Transport: 25-50 kg of ArmoTec can replace 500 kg of rebar mesh, and it can be delivered by postal service rather than requiring a truck.
- Easy to Work With: Simply add it to the concrete mixer; no transport, handling, rebar installation, or hassle required.
- Minimal Labor Requirements: Almost no additional labor is needed.
- Non-Corrosive: Unlike rebar, which can corrode over time due to acids and moisture penetrating through microcracks in the concrete, ArmoTec macrofibers completely eliminate this issue.
- Easy Drilling: Fiber-reinforced concrete allows for easy drilling without drill breakage.
- More Cost-Effective: Significantly cheaper than rebar mesh.
- Smaller Ecological Footprint: The production and transport of ArmoTec have a fraction of the environmental impact compared to rebar. Additionally, using macrofibers reduces the need for corrosion-protective concrete cover, further contributing to environmental protection. If you care about the environment, this is the material for you.
- Scientifically Proven: Studies support that macrofibers significantly strengthen concrete and can even replace rebar: Scientific Study.
- Reduced Concrete Volume: Concrete structures typically use at least 50% of their volume to protect rebar from corrosion. With macrofibers, this protection is unnecessary, allowing for a significant reduction in the amount of concrete needed.
The workability of dense concrete can be significantly improved by using a plasticizer, such as VIP-REX SF superplasticizer. This allows us to reduce the amount of water by half.
By using VIP-REX SF, you gain the following advantages:
- Denser concrete with greater strength
- Increased abrasion resistance
- Longer lifespan
- Reduced water usage
- Higher quality concrete
- Lower risk of concrete failure
- Easier workability
- Reduced tendency for cracking
- Improved water tightness
- Enhanced frost resistance
- Extended workability time
- Easier surface finishing with a better final result
- Reduced post-cure work
Remember! Half the amount of water!
For super-strong, high-load-bearing, and durable concrete, add ArmoTec structural macrofibers to the mix. This allows you to replace rebar mesh and achieve concrete that lasts a lifetime (and beyond).
