Reinforced concrete, as a construction material, is widely used in many types of structures. For economic execution of structure, Reinforced concrete is the best choice for designers.
The advantages of reinforced concrete
- It has a relatively high compressive strength;
- It has better resistance to fire than steel;
- It has a long service life with low maintenance cost;
- In some types of structures, such as dams, piers, and footings, it is the most economical structural material;
- It can be cast to take the shape required, making it widely used in precast structural components. It yields rigid members with minimum apparent deflection.
The disadvantages of reinforced concrete
- It has a low tensile strength of about one-tenth of its compressive strength;
- It needs mixing, casting, and curing, all of which affect the final strength of concrete;
- The cost of the forms used to cast of concrete placed in the forms;
- It has a low compressive strength as compared to steel (the ratio is about 1:10, depending on materials), which leads to large sections in columns of multistory buildings;
- Cracks develop in concrete due to shrinkage and the application of live loads.
