Disadvantages of Concrete in Construction

Limitations of Concrete

The disadvantages of Concrete are as follows:

1. Concrete has a very low tensile strength and requires the use of reinforcing bars in the concrete tensile zone.
2. Expensive formwork is required for casting and molding and to hold the concrete in place until it hardens sufficiently.
3. The low strength per unit of weight of concrete leads to heavy members and is an important consideration for tall buildings and long-span structures resulting in disadvantages of Concrete
4. The properties of concrete vary widely due to variations in its proportioning and mix­ing.
5. The placing and curing of concrete are not as carefully controlled as the production of other materials such as structural steel and laminated wood.
6. Another Disadvantage of Concrete is that Concrete is not ductile.
7. Concrete is quasi-brittle and exhibits a strain-softening behavior
8. Compared to steel, concrete has significantly low toughness. The toughness of concrete is only 1-2% of steel.
9. Shrinkage in concrete causes cracks are developed and strength loss.
10. Concrete requires the installation of formwork to mold it into a shape and to support its self-weight.
11. Full-strength development in concrete requires proper curing for up to 28 days which means that concrete requires extra care and a good amount of water which makes it a disadvantage.
12. The process of manufacturing concrete is not environment-friendly as it uses a lot more energy and emits greater volumes of carbon dioxide than other construction materials such as steel and glass.
13. Concrete is susceptible to cracking. There are different types and causes of cracking
14. Concrete is bulkier than steel or wood, increasing the dead load of the structure.
15. Can experience concrete creep – increase in deformation over time with sustained loading.
16. Can experience shrinkage – decrease in volume due to loss of absorbed water.

Properties of Fresh Concrete | Properties of Hard Concrete | Types of Concrete