Concrete is one of the essential materials without which no construction work can be carried out. Its main characteristic is high strength, which can be increased by adding certain components or changing their proportions.
During construction, it is important to calculate the weight of a cubic meter of concrete. This value depends on the filler; for example, building material based on pebbles or gravel will weigh significantly more than the same amount of concrete with expanded clay as the filler.
Classification by Specific Weight
Specific weight is one of the main characteristics of concrete, and it is used as the basis for its primary classification. Based on this parameter, construction material is divided into lightweight, ultra-lightweight, heavy, and ultra-heavy.
Ultra-lightweight material is characterized by the presence of small and medium-sized air cells, with diameters not exceeding one and a half millimeters. A large number of these cells are permissible—up to 85% of the volume. This type of concrete is not very strong but retains heat well, making it suitable for insulating buildings. The specific weight of this material category does not exceed 0.5 tons.
Lightweight concrete, with a specific weight ranging from 0.5 to 1.8 tons per cubic meter, also has a porous structure. This type of concrete must contain 0.6 tons of sand, giving it higher strength. It is usually used for blocks in construction.
| Type | Grades | Specific Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra-lightweight | M50 – M75 | up to 500 |
| Lightweight | M100 – M200 | 500-1800 |
| Heavy | M200 – M400 | 1800-2500 |
| Ultra-heavy | M450 and above | 2500-3000 |
Heavy concrete, with a specific weight up to 2.5 tons, is highly durable because it uses heavy and large-sized fillers. It can be used in most construction processes. The total weight of a cubic meter consists of the weight of each component:
- Water: 150-200 liters
- Cement: 250-450 kilograms
- Gravel or crushed stone: 1.15-1.3 tons
- Sand: 600-750 kilograms
Ultra-heavy concrete, with a specific weight over 2.5 tons, contains scrap metal, hematite, or heavy spar. It is used to build partitions and rooms that need to protect against radiation, such as at nuclear power plants.
Classification by Grade
To understand the exact specific weight of concrete, it is divided by grades. Each grade corresponds to a specific set of characteristics and specific weight.
| Grade | Concrete Class | Weight per 1 m³ (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| M100 | B7.5 | 2494 |
| M200 | B15 | 2432 |
| M250 | B20 | 2348 |
| M300 | B22.5 | 2502 |
| M350 | B25 | 2502 |
| M400 | B30 | 2376 |
| M500 | 2294 |
The mass and volume composition varies depending on the grade, but the amount of cement remains the same. The difference lies in the amount of sand and gravel.
General Overview
| Concrete Type | Specific Weight per Cubic Meter (kg) |
|---|---|
| Reinforced concrete | 2500 |
| Concrete with gravel or stone | 2400 |
| Tuff concrete | 1200-1600 |
| Pumice concrete | 800-1600 |
| Concrete on volcanic slag | 800-1600 |
| Expanded clay concrete | 500-1800 |
| Expanded clay concrete on quartz sand | 800-1200 |
| Expanded clay concrete on perlite sand | 800-1000 |
| Shungite concrete | 100-1400 |
| Perlite concrete | 600-1200 |
| Slag-pumice concrete | 1000-1800 |
| Slag-pumice foam and gas concrete | 800-1600 |
| Concrete on granulated blast furnace slag | 1200-1800 |
| Aggloporite concrete | 1000-1800 |
| Concrete on ash gravel | 1000-1400 |
| Gas-ash concrete and foam-ash concrete | 800-1200 |
| Gas concrete, foam concrete, gas silicate, and foam silicate | 300-1000 |
| Vermiculite concrete | 300-800 |
Important Notes
When conducting construction work, it is important to choose the right grade of concrete based on the type of work being carried out. For example, M100 grade concrete is suitable only for the initial (preparatory) stage of foundation construction. M150 grade concrete can be used for creating pathways and floor screeds.
One of the most demanded grades, M200, is widely used for stairs, foundations, and more. M250 can be used similarly to M200, but it can also be used for creating floor slabs. M300 grade is suitable for walls and floor slabs, while M350 is used for pool walls and other high-load structures. M400 grade, known for its high strength, is used in large commercial structures and in areas with high seismic activity. M450 is resistant to low temperatures and low water absorption. M500 grade is the strongest and is used in underwater structures, tunnels, and dams.