ENGINEERING

Building Defects in Saudi Arabia

Building Defects in Saudi Arabia

Literature review

Buildings in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian peninsula is known for its extremely hot climate. It is due to this reason that construction in the desert nation has an entirely different meaning than in the United Kingdom. While erecting a building in Saudi Arabia, there is added emphasis on including fresh concrete when using concrete for construction. One needs to understand the basic definition of hot weather in order to grasp the concept and its effects on the concentration level of concrete.

Hot weather can be defined as a period of extreme heat or high temperatures. Construction in such climatic conditions require builders to take special measures and precautions to make sure there is appropriate handling, placing, finishing and curing of concrete being used. The summer season is when hot weather can be experienced.

The issue of concrete being wasted is limited to summer season. In case there are dry winds blowing, concrete can be affected in such climate too. This is characteristic of countries that have tropical or arid climate. During hot weather evaporation takes place at a very rapid rate. This evaporation rate can dry the concrete faster and rid the material of the moisture that is needed to shape the structure. Dry weather can also affect the quality and moisture of concrete. In climates that are more humid in nature, concrete may be able to retain its moisture for a longer period of time than in dry conditions such as in Saudi Arabia. High levels of humidity can also reduce the effects of hot weather (Grathwol & Moorhus, 2009, pp. 154).

Hot weather effects on Concrete in Saudi Arabia

The dry and hot weather in Saudi Arabia can cause a number of problems while constructing a concrete property. The most frequent and probable effects of such weather include mixing of concrete, placing and curling hydraulic concrete. The climate of Saudi Arabia can negatively impact the quality and serviceability of concrete. As a result, if construction companies do not apply preventive measures necessary, the overall quality and usability can be reduced significantly. It has been witnessed that Saudi Arabia's dry weather can reduce the strength of concrete by leaving cracks, shrinkage and thermal cracking in the material. Due to the chemical nature of concrete, once the damage is done, it is irreversible.

In hot weather climate, the rate of cement hydration and moisture vaporization can increase significantly. These are two of the most frequently associated problems with cement usage in high temperature climates such as Saudi Arabia. A concrete mix is only as strong as the efficiency of the reaction between water and cement. If the correct balance is not achieved, the cement mixture will not be able to reach the strength it was designed for. It is this reaction of cement and water that creates the solidifying effect of concrete. The process of curing in cement occurs once the cement begins to hydrate. Curing process determines the strength of the cement ...