Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
Do you do spray painting? lol
What Are Concrete and Mortar?
In this post, we’ll discuss sprayed concrete and sprayed mortar.
I’m sure you already know the difference between mortar and concrete, but let’s go over it again.
| Item | Mortar | Concrete |
|---|---|---|
| Main Ingredients | Cement + Fine Aggregate + Water | Cement + Fine Aggregate +Coarse aggregate+ Water |
| Coarse aggregate (gravel) | ❌ None | ⭕ Yes |
| Mixing Ratios | 1:4Cement: Fine Aggregate | 1:4:1Cement : Fine Aggregate : Coarse Aggregate |
| Water-to-cement ratio | 45%–55% | 45%–55% |
| Strength | Lower than concrete | More expensive than mortar |
| Item | Mortar | Concrete |
|---|---|---|
| Key Differences | No coarse aggregate | With coarse aggregate |
| Compressive Strength (28 Days) | 10–30 N/mm² | 18–40 N/mm² |
| Tensile and Flexural Strength | Low | High |
| Rigidity (resistance to deformation) | Low | High |
| Crack Resistance | Prone to breaking | Hard to break |
| Used as structural material | ❌ Not allowed | ⭕ Yes |
Why is concrete stronger?
To put it simply, “it’s because the gravel (coarse aggregate) bears the load.”
That’s what I mean when I say “in standard concrete structures”!
Mortar
Cement + Sand + Water
The force is borne almost entirely by the cement paste
⇒ Limited strength; prone to cracking
Concrete
Cement + Sand + Gravel + Water
Gravel acts as a framework to distribute force
⇒ Improved compression, bending, and durability
This is the difference between concrete and mortar that people generally talk about.
Concrete is the predominant material, especially for critical structures (such as the lower and upper parts of bridge piers), isn't it?
So, how does this apply to our slope?
In slope stabilization work,
Basically, the framing for the wall is made of mortar.
When you think of spray-applied concrete, you probably picture concrete, right?
Do you know the difference?
In the next post, I’ll discuss why mortar is used in formwork.
See you later.
