Reinforcing steel is inserted into the concrete mix and used to increase the strength and resistance of concrete to any kind of pressure. This type of reinforcement constitutes the key component of each modern construction.
Key purposes of use of reinforcing steel
- increase in the tensile strength of concrete: reinforcing steel improves the tensile performance of tensile for the reason that while concrete resists pressure excellently, its tensile performance is considerably worse.
- increase in the resistance to cracking: reinforcing steel prevents and limits the formation and spreading of cracks in concrete. Cracks can be caused by concrete shrinkage, temperature changes or various external forces.
- increase in the resistance to bending: reinforced concrete structures, which are formed by the combination of concrete and steel reinforcement, are much more resistant to bending than pure concrete.
- increase in the resistance to sliding: reinforcing steel contributes to increased resistance of structures to sliding pressure, which can incur e.g. during earthquakes.
