Sturdier over the years
OVER THE years, mankind has been drawn to build architectural marvels, some of them withstanding the tests of time. And as time went by, construction methods and materials have continuously progressed, adding longevity to these structures.
Among the many advancements of construction, none may have a more profound effect than the machines that are used to lift heavy objects that become integral pieces in a building. These machineries do not only help in building sturdier structures but improve efficiency as well.
Today, skyscrapers, bridges, dams, roads, and canals, among others, are built so fast. The metropolis and central business districts are swiftly being filled up with towering buildings
Construction materials such as concrete have come a long way as will. From using mud bricks, construction companies now use high- end concrete, a composite material made up of coarse aggregate bonded together with fluid cement which hardens over time.
Most concretes are composed of lime- based concretes like Portland cements which is made with other hydraulic cements.
Road surfaces, on the other hand, are made with asphalt concrete which is made with bitumen, and polymer concretes are also often used.
Portland cement concrete is made by mixing the aggregate with dry cement and water, which forms a fluid mass that can easily be molded into shape. When mixed with water and the other materials, the cement has a chemical reaction, forming a hard matrix which binds all materials together into a rocklike material that can already be used for construction purposes. As heavy machinery is among the most important necessities in cost and time efficient construction, there are a slew of other heavy industrial machinery that have their own purposes. These machines have progressed along concretes as well, evolving from being horse drawn to being steam powered. Today, most of this mammoth machineries are powered by diesel. Until the end of the 19th century, heavy equipment were merely drawn by human or animal power. When steam-powered engines were invented, however, things got a little easier. Heavy machines were then reconfigured to become steam-powered. Some of the machines that were reconfigured were the harvesters. The steam tractor and the steam roller were then configured. Some of these machines exist until now but have undergone major changes as technologies advanced. It was during the 20th century when internal combustion engines become the main power source of heavy machines. Among the most used heavy equipment include track types, graders, excavators, scrapers, loaders, material handlers, compactors, and paving machines, among others.