Concrete is not just cement mixed with water; rather, cement and water form only the chemical binder paste that holds the entire mixture together. Pure cement combined with water creates cement paste, which on its own is extremely brittle, shrinks heavily, and cracks easily upon drying. To make actual structural concrete, this cement-water paste must be thoroughly combined with carefully proportioned aggregates, consisting of fine sand and coarse gravel or crushed stone. The aggregates make up roughly sixty to seventy-five percent of the total volume, providing the structural bulk, dimensional stability, and compressive strength required to build durable foundations, slabs, and heavy infrastructure.
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