Concrete Tubes
A concrete tube, or concrete core, is a device used to pour concrete for construction applications. These devices are typically constructed from cardboard or other similar fibrous materials, and they serve as the means for containing and shaping the concrete.
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Applications of Concrete Tubes
With a concrete tube in place, construction workers can pour liquid concrete into the tube and allow it to solidify, allowing for the construction of large concrete columns and support structures.
Concrete Tube Design and Manufacturing Process
Concrete tubes are constructed by winding cardboard into spiraling layers. The spiraled cardboard is held together with an adhesive, and additional layers of spiraled cardboard are added on until the desired thickness is achieved. The thickness of the tube determines the strength and durability of the tube. Therefore, for large quantities of concrete, a thicker tube is required to handle the increased pressure without bursting. Along with varied thicknesses, manufacturers also fabricate concrete cores in a variety of diameters and lengths. The diameter of the tube is important to consider, since this diameter will determine the thickness of the resulting concrete column. Tube length is less crucial, though. Cardboard is easy to cut and manipulate, so the tube length can be cut down to the appropriate length using hand tools or power tools. For most construction applications, tubes can be purchased much longer than necessary and then cut to the desired length when they are needed.
Besides these dimensional variations, tube manufacturers can incorporate other beneficial features to meet specific applications. Water resistant walls are a common feature used in the construction industry. Because water is so important to the concrete curing process, a water resistant layer on the inside of the concrete core can help prevent the water from diffusing into the ground or air around the tube. This additional feature can help improve concrete strength and reliability. Other features focus on improving the durability of the tube for use in harsher environments.
Construction companies are the largest consumers of concrete tubes and cores, as they provide an effective and affordable method for creating load bearing concrete structures. Other materials like steel or plastic can be used to create similar tubes. However, cardboard is more affordable than metals and plastics. These other materials are also more difficult to remove from the column once it has solidified. Cardboard tubes, on the other hand, can simply be cut away and removed, and these tubes can be cut to the correct length much easier as well. For this reason, you will often see cardboard tubes being used to create columns for highway overpasses and piles for architectural foundations. In addition to large construction projects, these tubes are an affordable option for commercial use and home improvement projects. Ultimately, concrete cores and tubes provide an excellent, cost effective solution to any concrete fabrication application.