Advantages of Reinforced Concrete

Reinforced concrete uses extra materials like steel bars, wooden beams or fibers, along with a wire frame to help mold the concrete. The reinforcement interacts with the concrete, strengthening it and providing enough support to build bridges and skyscrapers. The concrete provides shielding for the steel so it doesn't corrode as quickly, and together they are a common component in modern construction.

Definition

Reinforced concrete is normal concrete cast around a more solid object, such as a metal pole, for extra support. To correctly frame the concrete, a wire frame is used to hold it in and form the right shape for it to take when it dries. When stress is put on the concrete, much of it is transferred to the beam or pole in the center, taking the weight off the concrete itself. The bars placed inside the concrete are usually made of steel and referred to as rebars, although reinforced concrete can use several different materials for extra support.

Advantages

On its own, concrete tends to be brittle, breaking easily under sudden stress and crumbling under the influence of time and weather. This makes it difficult to use traditional concrete in structures intended to hold a large amount of weight or last a long time. Reinforced concrete, on the other hand, can hold much more weight and does not wear as easily. Most structures built today use reinforced concrete.

Types

Although steel beams are the most common material used in reinforced concrete, wooden beams are also included, along with fibrous material that is used for the same end. Some concrete is reinforced with plates instead of beams. Fiber and glass is most often used when the concrete will be on display and needs to have a finished look.

Uses

Reinforced concrete is used in large scale construction, such as bridges and skyscrapers. It was first created for building construction in the mid 1800s, and soon spread across both Europe and America. Most major buildings built by the beginning of the 1900s were created with reinforced concrete.

Considerations

Reinforced concrete is subject to the same principles as normal concrete, and the quality depends on the mixture of the cement and how well it is set. The extra materials used will also cost more, especially if steel bars are used instead of wood or recycled fiber alternatives. However, the glass and fiber alternatives can present difficulties of their own by becoming weaker in a fire.