The Origin of Concrete Concrete is one of the materials that most of us don't give much consideration because it is so common. In fact, there is no material that is more widely and completely used than concrete. Where it came from isn't so much a mystery once you start tracing the architectural history of buildings and civilizations. As a building material it is strong, durable, cheap, and relatively easy to make. Aggregate refers to a blend of things like sand, stones, and crushed rock. It can also include things such as slag, ashes, burned shale, or even burned clay. It is either created in fine, almost dust like appearance or a larger and coarser blend of material. The fine blend is typically used to make the concrete that will go into small jobs or even detail work. Larger aggregate is created for those big construction projects. In some cases there may be crushed bits of metal added into the mix. Aggregate, cement, and water are then blended together in the right balance of proportions and allowed to cure in their final form. While clay was the original building material that can be found in the history of the Babylonians and Assyrians and gypsum and lime are found as a moderate form of concrete throughout Egyptian history, there is some debate regarding the actual origins of concrete. With many different cultures throughout history creatively playing with various forms of molds, materials, and methods for building faster and stronger buildings it can be difficult to discern exactly where the first concrete blocks were made. Evidence has shown that the first consistent use of concrete was crafted by the Greeks. As a building material it was certainly preferred to wood, clay, or rock. It allowed for better structuring of the material and it also allowed the creation of new designs. Newer methods of pouring and mixing have certainly helped to keep the popularity of the material alive and well. There have also been numerous alterations to the original mix to produce things such as reinforced concrete, and hydraulic cement. As a modern building material concrete has become an essential part of nearly everything that stands erect. Buildings, statues, and even park benches are often firmly bound in the freshly poured concrete mixture. Special designs and techniques have been added to help with the process of creating with the strength of concrete and the ease with which the development and implementation occurs. Concrete is one of the materials that most of us don't give much consideration because it is so common. In fact, there is no material that is more widely and completely used than concrete. Where it came from isn't so much a mystery once you start tracing the architectural history of buildings and civilizations. As a building material it is strong, durable, cheap, and relatively easy to make. Aggregate refers to a blend of things like sand, stones, and crushed rock. It can also include things such as slag, ashes, burned shale, or even burned clay. It is either created in fine, almost dust like appearance or a larger and coarser blend of material. The fine blend is typically used to make the concrete that will go into small jobs or even detail work. Larger aggregate is created for those big construction projects. In some cases there may be crushed bits of metal added into the mix. Aggregate, cement, and water are then blended together in the right balance of proportions and allowed to cure in their final form. While clay was the original building material that can be found in the history of the Babylonians and Assyrians and gypsum and lime are found as a moderate form of concrete throughout Egyptian history, there is some debate regarding the actual origins of concrete. With many different cultures throughout history creatively playing with various forms of molds, materials, and methods for building faster and stronger buildings it can be difficult to discern exactly where the first concrete blocks were made. Evidence has shown that the first consistent use of concrete was crafted by the Greeks. As a building material it was certainly preferred to wood, clay, or rock. It allowed for better structuring of the material and it also allowed the creation of new designs. Newer methods of pouring and mixing have certainly helped to keep the popularity of the material alive and well. There have also been numerous alterations to the original mix to produce things such as reinforced concrete, and hydraulic cement. As a modern building material concrete has become an essential part of nearly everything that stands erect. Buildings, statues, and even park benches are often firmly bound in the freshly poured concrete mixture. Special designs and techniques have been added to help with the process of creating with the strength of concrete and the ease with which the development and implementation occurs.
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