Concrete

DEFINITIONS
CONCRETE is a manufactured mixture of cement and water, with aggregates of sand and stones, which hardens rapidly by chemical combination to a stone-like, water-and-fire-resisting solid of great compressive but low tensile strengh.

REINFORCED CONCRETE was developed to add the tensile strengh of steel to the compressive strengh of mass concrete. It was invented in 1849 by Hoseph Monier, who recieved a patent in 1867.


 * Three 20th century important developments in production that are destined to have a radical effect on architecture:**

1.CONCRETE SHELL CONSTRUCTION: Permits the erection of vast vaults and dones with a concrete and steel content so reduced that the thickness is comparatively less than that of an eggshell. 2.PRECAST-CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION: Employs bricks, slabs and supports made under optinal factory conditions to increase waterproofing and solidity, to decrease time and cost in erection, and to reduce expansion and contraction. 3. PRESTRESSED CONCRETE: Provides bearing members into whicvh reinforcement is set under tension to produce a live force to resist a particular load.

A CHICAGO BIULDING CALLED AQUA, BUILT WITH REINFORCED CONCRETE

THIS BIULDING CALLED THE ELEMENT, LOCATED IN TORONTO, IS PRECAST CONCRETE. ELEMENT IS PART OF A PROGRAM CALED "NATURALLLY BETTER"

SUTARDJA DAI HALL, AN AWARD WINING BUILDING AT UC BERKLEY, IS A PRECAST/PRESTRESSED CONCRTE BUILDING.