Concrete texture

[killswitchengage]

Hello
I was just wondering about concrete texture and its effect on mechanical performances. You see; we are working on a container terminal and using reinforced concrete slabs to support the containers .At the end , some of them have smooth surfaces others don't . So our client wants it to be smooth all the way to the end , but i think that since the slabs will be used as a pavement and not as an external facade of a building , rough surfaces usually don't suffer from skin fractures as much as smooth ones.
What do you think about this ? (sorry for my rusty English )

EDIT: changed " smooth surfaces dont suffer from skin fractures" to "rough surfaces usually don't suffer from skin fractures as much as smooth ones"

 

[racookpe1978]

Draw a sketch of WHERE the containers are, where the expected traffic is, and where the concrete will be.

Rougher surfaces (if they drain adequately) are good (but not essential) for areas where traffic occurs - particularly foot traffic and truck/trailer traffic because there is less slipping when wet or mildewed. But the rough surface is worse where skiddng like solid forklift tires are turning, rubs off the solid tires faster, so you want smooth (warehouse-floor like) finish in the driving areas.

Surface finish affecting structural strength? (Like walls or piers?)

 

[Ron]

kse....I assume you mean surface blemishes, blisters and scaling when you mention "skin fractures".

Even brushed concrete is subject to surface blemishes if not properly finished and cured. The performance of the concrete, in general, is not greatly affected by the texture of the concrete surface. Either rough or smooth can overlie good concrete (and the converse of course).

 

[killswitchengage]

Than you both
But i read somewhere that the texture indicates something about SiO2 hydration or whatever
Racookpe made a good point about slippage

 

[SlideRuleEra]

A "broom finish" has long been recognized as a good compromise between a rough surface for traction and a smooth finish for a "flat" surface.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[Ron]

The texture gives no particular indication of hydration, except when you have bleed water from the concrete that compromises the strength of the surface, resulting in microcracking, map cracking and scaling.

 

[killswitchengage]

ok thank you all