Does thicker concrete crack less?
Concrete of a thickness of less than 5″ is more prone to cracking, unfortunately this includes nearly all the poured slabs out there. Slabs 4″ thick are twice as resistant to fractures (heavy loads from above as well as lifting from below) than are 3″ slabs.
Concrete driveways are typically poured four inches thick, giving the concrete driveway enough strength to withstand loads of regular vehicles (up to approximately 8,000lbs).
Generally, cracks with a width of less than 0.3 mm are acceptable and do not affect the structure. However, they may develop and grow to become structural cracks. Therefore, one should monitor small cracks on houses or structures. Crack width greater than 0.3 mm can create problems for the durability of the structure.
Ask any contractor if they can guarantee that the concrete patio they pour won't crack, and they will all give you the very same answer: No. This is because concrete will crack; no matter what anybody does, there is just no avoiding the fact that concrete cracks.
How long does four to six inches of concrete take to cure? As stated previously, concrete takes approximately 26-30 days to reach its full strength. If the concrete is professionally poured and floated, the curing process should be sound and ensure proper hardening of the concrete base.
After 48 hours: Concrete is okay to walk on, but it's still curing and gaining strength. Keep all wheeled traffic, including cars, bicycles and skateboards, off the surface. After 7 to 10 days: At this point the concrete has gained enough strength to support a car.
No, you do not need rebar for a 4-inch slab of concrete on grade. A 4-inch-thick slab cast on the ground and in permanent contact with it will float and rebar is not required. Rebar is recommended on concrete measuring 5 – 6 inches thick.
How Big Can A Concrete Slab Be Without Expansion Joints? Expansion joints need to be installed 2 to 3 times in feet the thickness of a concrete slab in inches. So if your slab is 4 inches thick, the slab can be 8 to 12 feet long or wide without requiring an expansion joint.
Cracking occurs when shrinkage forces become greater than the strength of the concrete. This can be seen as a race against time between two phenomena: the evaporation of water and the increase in the strength of concrete. This is also true for concrete parts that cannot deform.
PLASTIC SHRINKAGE
Concrete is made up of cement and water. As the concrete hardens and the water evaporates, the concrete shrinks. Too much water will lead to too much shrinkage, causing the concrete to crack. That's why concrete cracks are frequently seen within the first 30 days.
Why would concrete crack right away?
Plastic shrinkage cracks: If you notice cracks in your concrete right away, you're probably dealing with plastic shrinkage cracks. These types of cracks result from quick moisture loss during installation.
Cracks in concrete are common and they develop when stresses in the concrete exceed its strength. Cracks are often caused by normal shrinkage of the concrete when hardening and drying.
Hairline cracks in a concrete slab are rarely a cause for concern. They can be controlled, but not eliminated. A crack in a slab of 1/8 inch or less is typically a normal shrinkage crack and not a cause for concern.
The sealed cracks need to be patched, dried for at least two hours, and covered using a board or a plastic sheet. It is essential to cover the area for around five days. Every day, you need to lift the covering and sprinkle water on the surface. Hairline cracks are not a big deal.
Narrow cracks can be filled with a masonry concrete crack filler that comes in a cartridge designed to be used in a caulking gun. Alternatively, you can create a concrete patch with a vinyl concrete patching compound applied and smoothed with a putty knife.
For large scale projects like buildings, concrete should last up to 100 years if it's properly cared for. Concrete projects that experience more wear-and-tear like sidewalks and driveways have an expected lifespan of about half that—50 years.
Spray: To maintain the proper moisture levels, concrete should be sprayed with water frequently. This is known as moist-curing. Most specialists recommend watering the slab 5 to 10 times per day for the first seven days. Moist-cured concrete can be up to 50% stronger than dry-cured concrete.
Properly curing your concrete improves strength, durability, water tightness, and resistance for many years. The first 7 days after installation you should spray the slab with water 5-10 times per day, or as often as possible. Once the concrete is poured the curing process begins immediately.
DO spray new concrete with water. One of the most common methods for curing concrete is to hose it down frequently with water—five to 10 times per day, or as often as you can—for the first seven days. Known as “moist curing,” this allows the moisture in the concrete to evaporate slowly.
Reinforcing concrete with rebar or wire mesh not only makes the concrete stronger, but also helps prevent cracks. This can save you money on repairs and keep your driveway looking like new for decades. You should use rebar inside a concrete driveway to provide more strength, durability and longevity.
What happens if you dont water concrete?
Concrete that is not moist-cured at all dries too rapidly, and reaches less than half its potential design strength. It will also have a greater number of shrinkage cracks.
Sixty per- cent of the system is paved with concrete that is 11 inches (28 cen- timeters) thick. By volume, concrete is typically 60 to 75 percent aggregate, 15 to 20 percent water, 10 to 15 percent cement, and 5 to 8 percent entrained air (Portland Cement Association, 2006).
You do need gravel under a concrete slab, footing, or patio. Gravel provides a solid foundation for your concrete as it can be compacted. It also improves drainage, preventing water from pooling beneath the concrete.
No, they do not. Larger projects or slabs may need steel reinforcement to provide support or extra strength. Wired mesh can also help resist cracking. However, not every piece of concrete necessarily requires that extra boost.
Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.