John Arvin V.

Escote Reinforced Concrete Design

BSCE-3A Engr. Federico Aves
Module 1
Properties of Concrete as Construction Material
Pre-Test:
1. Explain your own understanding about reinforced concrete?
- Reinforced concrete is the combination of a certain concrete member such as
columns, slabs, or beams, that contains a steel reinforcement such as rebars or steel
bars to increase a structure’s strength. During construction, the reinforcement steel is
placed in a formwork that are fastened together and wired in-situ. Then, concrete is
poured into the formwork and vibrated using adequate devices to achieve high level of
collaboration between the two materials.
2. What makes concrete as popular as construction materials?
- Concrete is a popular material for many construction applications, and it is widely used
because of its strength, durability, reflectivity, and versatility. These properties make it a
sturdy and long-lasting option for numerous domestic and commercial settings. In terms
of environmental benefits, concrete can withstand natural disasters, avoiding the need
for additional repairs. It can also be recycled and reused for natural lifespan expansion.
3. Explain the strengths and weaknesses of concrete as construction materials?
- One of the main disadvantages or weaknesses of concrete is its very low tensile
strength that is practically exceeded at low levels of load. This results in cracking of the
concrete surfaces that in turn leads to aesthetical problems (large deflection of beams
or slabs) for the serviceability limit state as well as structural integrity problems at the
ultimate limit state. It also has low ductability, low strength-to-weight ratio, and
susceptible to cracking as mentioned before. In contrast, concrete possesses high
compressive strength to withstand a huge amount of load. It also has less corrosive and
weathering effects due to the environment. Lastly, concrete is durable and fire-resistant
and comparatively required little maintenance.
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