Is your concrete securely able to handle pure compression and tension stresses? You don’t want your concrete to buckle or crack due to a lack of reinforcements. That is why the most utilized construction material is Reinforced Concrete (RC).
Reinforced concrete is more commonly used than steel or timber. In this post, we’ll discuss how it works and why it is so important.
What Is Reinforced Concrete?
It is a slab or concrete member that carries a steel brace usually in the fashion of steel bars. The concrete reinforcing mesh increases the durability of its structure.
The process of how to reinforce concrete is simple.
First, place the reinforcement steel in the formwork. The steel can be a premade steel rebar or steel cage that is either fastened together or wired. Then you simply pour the concrete into the same formwork with the prefabricated reinforcement steel.
The concrete must be vibrated with devices that will guarantee a maximum collaboration of the concrete and steel. It is best to vibrate as the concrete is being poured into the formwork.
Why Is It Important?
Concrete by itself has many disadvantages. It is unable to handle low levels of weight due to its low tensile strength. That means the potential for terrible cracking and a low serviceability limit, which results in structural integrity concerns as well.
On the other hand, using exclusively rebar may provide great tensile strength to handle tension and compression. In the end, though, it may still buckle.
These are the reasons why reinforced concrete is the most effective in structural strength and integrity. The reinforcing rebar stands well under tension and the concrete stands well under compression. As a result, the reinforced concrete maintains its shape and durability.
Where Can I Use It?
It comes in diverse forms. As such, it can be used in all forms of construction. There is the reinforced concrete pipe, reinforced concrete wall, and columns, to name a few.
The different forms of reinforced concrete use are categorized into two types: plate-type members and line-type members.
Line-type members come in the forms of piles, beams, or columns.
Plate-type members come in the form of vertical or horizontal plates. Some examples include shear and core walls, as well as slabs of bridge decks and raft foundations.
Reinforced concrete can also have cross-sections of different shapes. There is the T-shape, the rectangular, and the circular shape for reinforced concrete cross-sections. Each shape has different costs involved and is useful for a diverse range of construction needs.
Where Can I Learn More?
It is important to know and understand one of the most utilized construction materials out there.
Reinforced concrete is going to be vital to any construction project for your business, and there are different costs associated with each structure. We can help you estimate the costs and get you a quote today.
Contact us through our website or give us a call at 314-499-8181.
