New Lightweight Concrete

By Author: mohanchen
Total Articles: 434
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Your foundation is built in a hole that has been dug in hard-packed virgin soil that has been undisturbed for many years. Once the foundation is complete, the earth that was removed is now used to back fill against the walls of the foundation.
It is critical to have this backfilling done in stages -- each stage should be compacted to reduce settling. If the compaction is not done, the loosely packed dirt will allow water to drain downward instead of running on the surface, the dirt will settle, and bring any water toward the foundation. When this happens, the water will pile up against the foundation wall. This will increase the hydrostatic pressure which will push the water into and through the concrete, increasing the probability of leaking.
This above-ground portion of your foundation is going to be soaked by rain that can find its way to the interior of the foundation and the problems we are trying to avoid.
Now consider the concrete that is below the backfill, but above the concrete curing waterproofing membrane (the top of the waterproofing is usually a few inches below the backfill so you don't see it). ...
... When it rains, the water saturates these first few inches of dirt, and the un-waterproofed concrete will pull this water in like a sponge.
You can avoid this by sealing the walls all the to the top with a clear penetrating sealer.
Seal The Concrete Before Backfilling
Before backfilling, it makes sense to seal the pores of the concrete so that water cannot migrate through the concrete and release water vapor into the interior of the foundation which is under your home. Water vapor leads to mold growth and the musty smell we have all encountered. Damp spots on concrete walls or the floor are the visible evidence that you have this problem.
When water vapor is released into the interior of our foundation, it is pulled upward where it moistens the wood joists, the sill plate, the floor, and insulation.
Because these building materials are organic, they are a breeding ground for mold. To make things worse, your home is naturally pulling air upward, which means it is pulling the mold spores and more moisture into your living area. When this occurs, asthma and other repertory problems are worsened.
The obvious solution would be to seal the pores of the concrete before backfilling with a quality penetrating sealer which will stop the infiltration of water into the concrete. Next, apply an elastomeric waterproofing membrane that has the ability to span any cracks that may develop, and protect against leakage through any utility pipe penetrations. For more information please visit this url:- http://www.txiesc.com
Advantages of a Concrete Sealer
These types of membranes will also give you some protection from water leaking through any form ties that may not have been patched. (Form ties are metal rods that hold the forms used to build your walls together. These ties remain in and through the foundation walls when the forms are removed)
There are a few reasons for applying the penetrating sealer first. During the backfilling, the membrane can be compromised by stones scraping the membrane leaving exposed concrete, and unsealed concrete will allow water in as discussed above. A very important reason to use a clear sealer is to protect the concrete that is exposed to weather because it is above ground.
The mentioned "Elastic Composite, Reinforced Lightweight Concrete (ECRLC)" is a type of "Resilient Composite Systems (RCS)".
- Resilient Composite Systems (RCS):
"Resilient Composite Systems" (RCS) are the compound materials with particular structural properties, in which, contrary to the basic geometrical assumption of flexure theory in Solid Mechanics, strain changes in beam height during bending is typically "Non-linear". (As well, Elastic Composite, Reinforced Lightweight Concrete; ECRLC is a type of RCS with the mentioned specifics.)
Generally, Resilient Composite Systems comprise these components, as the main, necessary elements:
1) Mesh (Lattice);
2) Fibers or strands;
3) Conjoined matrix, having disseminated suitable pores and/or disseminated appropriate lightweight concrete aggregates beads or particles. [Here, the general term of "lightweight aggregate" has a broad meaning, also including the polymeric and non-polymeric beads or particles.]
Resilient Composite Systems are made by creating disseminated suitable hollow pores, and/or by distributing appropriate lightweight aggregates, in the supported reinforced, fibered conjoined matrix so that; "the strain changes in beam height during bending" is typically "non-linear". In this way, we could considerably increase the modulus of resilience and bearing capacity in bending "together with" significantly decreasing the weight, and greatly diminishing the possibility of beam fracture of primary compressive type. Through making these particular integrated functioning systems, for the first time, the said (paradoxical) properties have been concomitantly fulfilled in one functioning unit, altogether. For more information please visit this url:- http://www.txiesc.com
Generally, in these integrated functioning units, the amount and manner of the mentioned components use in the organized system are always "so that"; the mutual (reciprocal) interactions among the components finally lead to the "typically non-linear strain changes in beam height during bending" (as the "basic functional character" of these systems, with its specific testable criteria and indices), and fulfillment of the practical functional specifications of the system.
In RCS in general, the main strategy for raising the modulus of resilience in bending is "increasing the strain capability of the system in bending" within elastic limit.