Table of Contents
Introduction of Lean Concrete
Concrete has a ratio of 1:3:6 or below is known as lean concrete. This is the ratio of cement, sand and coarse aggregate. Based on cement content, concrete can be classified as rich concrete and lean concrete.
Rich concrete is used for structurul memebers while lean concrete is not for structurul members. Thickness of lean concrete ranges between 5 cm to 10 cm.
Lean concrete consist of less than 10% cement content. Aggregates are present in the high quanity compared to cement. Higher the quantity of aggregates, the leaner is the concrete. The smal paste is used to provide lubrication area for the aggregates. It restricts the mobility of aggregates in the mix concrete.
Purpose of Lean Concrete
Lean concrete is used for various purposes as listed below.
- Lean concrete is used to provide uniform surface for flundation.
- Lean concrete is used to prevents direct contact of foundation to the soil.
- It is used to provide uniform surface in the dirty terrain.
- It protects main foundation from moisture and sulphate attack. Soil consist of high moisture and sulphate is seprated by the layer of lean concrete.
Uses of Lean Concrete
Lean concrete is used to provide flate surface for foundation. This flate lean concrete surface works as a barrier between soil and concrete foundation. Lean concrete is a plain cement concrete which have low quantity of cement.
Lean concrete avoid various soil attacks such as moisture and sulphate attacks. These attackes can weaken foundation.
Benefits
- A popular use of lean concrete is to give the foundation concrete a regular surface and avoid direct contact between the foundation concrete and the ground.
- Under the foundation, lean concrete is used.
- Lean concrete is used to provide a flat surface for obtaining large foundations.
- Another goal is to protect the foundation from the soil below. This is because moisture and other chemicals in the soil, such as sulfates, can attack and weaken concrete.