What is Concrete?
Concrete is an important building material that is a mixture of cement, sand, and water. The mixer is prepared by mixing fine and coarse aggregate materials in a very specific proportion that hardens over time. One of the most popular concretes used is Portland cement which is lime based. Mixing is carried out in a mixing machine or manually depending upon the volume of construction. If demand is big and rapid, truck mounted concrete pump and high-capacity continuous mixer are employed. Concrete in combination with steel imparts heavy strength and is called reinforced concrete that is extensively used for the construction of multi-storied buildings, flyovers, roads, airstrips, railway tracks, dams, and many other such objects.
What is Concrete Cutting?
Concrete cutting is a common practice by which concrete slab is cut into desired sizes and shapes by manipulation. Concrete cutting has several applications as below:
Airport runways repair
Repaving parking lots
Preparing plumbing trenches,
Tunneling
Demolition of civil structure etc.
Cutting Technology
The technology of concrete cutting is precise as well as detailed. This is carried out carefully after consultation with industry experts and professionals while keeping some factors and processes in mind to ensure that the integrity and structure of the concrete slabs remain intact. Concrete cutting is a skillful process that requires expert supervision.
When is it most suitable?
The proper timing of concrete cutting depends on multiple factors, including the hardness of the concrete, the selection of the cutting tools of appropriate design and material, weather conditions, and the property of the concrete. There is an optimum event suitable for cutting concrete, which is medium, and age restricted. A too-early cut will cause revealing while too late will result in uncontrolled crack development. Testing of concrete by means of a wire saw is compulsory before cutting it.
Where to be cut?
If the slab of concrete is a large piece, it will be more effective to have more than one saw available to cut several areas simultaneously. However, it is recommended to cut from the center of the column. A structural engineer will decide the location of the joint and other factors like:
Taking measurements to form a square shape
Ensure the possibility of continuous saw cuts
Be sure to select an area avoiding reinforcing steel
In hot weather, form larger squares and cut interior joints to produce a fast setting and avoid cracks on the slab.
Different types of Cutting Methods
Slab Sawing
This is applied to smooth concrete surfaces. It is done by removing the topmost layer of possibly rough and uneven concrete and applied to produce a smooth and leveled top layer. Track precision type of saws is applied to cut various thicknesses of concrete.
Wall Sawing
Extensive skill sets and great precision are necessary for wall sawing to cut cleanly through vertical and horizontal concrete slabs. This is helpful to build new bay doors, window openings, ventilation, and other openings.
Wire Sawing:
This option is applied when logistical or physical constraints make saw cutting impossible due to space and time limitations.
Selection of saw blade:
The selection of a genuine and proper diamond saw blade for concrete cutting is a prime factor to consider as it ensures a better surface finish. Apart from some basic aspects, the diameters of diamond saw blades that the saw can accommodate, its arbor size, and the quality of the blade are the other prime factors that need to be considered carefully.
Benefits of Concrete Cutting
Concrete cutting tools are remarkably beneficial compared to traditional demolition which is loud and invasive while the cutting option is less intrusive and less noisy. It has low dust emission and therefore it is an environment-friendly option.
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