Concrete: The material that’s ‘too vast to imagine’
A recent BBC article predicted that, if its rate of growth continues, concrete will overtake the total weight of Earth’s biomass sometime around 2040. Try to picture that in the mind’s eye: there is a day approaching soon when there will be a greater weight of concrete on Earth than every single tree in every forest, every fish in every sea, every farm animal in every field, and every person alive right now.
Notes: A typical concrete mix weighs 150 lbs per cubic foot, 4,050 lbs per cubic yard, or 2,400 kg per cubic meter. The weight of concrete is determined by its density, which can vary based on the amount of aggregate, water, and air in the mix.
Determine the Density of Concrete
Density is the measure of mass for a given volume and is defined by the formula:
density (p) = mass (m) ÷ volume (V)
The density of concrete is 3.15 g/cm3while the density of aggregate will vary by the type of stone used. For instance, gravel has a much higher density than vermiculite. The density of a typical concrete mix is 2.4 g/cm3or 150 lbs/ft3.
Different mixes of concrete will use more or less aggregate as well. For instance, the preferred concrete mix for a countertop will have less aggregate than the mix for a driveway, which will affect the density and thus the weight of the concrete.