Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars ("rebars"), reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is reinforced with iron or steel. Other materials to reinforce concrete can be organic and inorganic fibres as well as composites in different forms. Concrete is strong in compression, but weak in tension, thus adding reinforcement increases the strength in tension. In addition the failure strain of concrete in tension is such low that the reinforcement has to hold the cracked sections together. For a strong, ductile and durable construction the reinforcement shall have the following properties:
- High strength
- High tensile strain
- Good bond to the concrete
- Thermal compatibility
- Durability in the concrete environment
In most cases reinforced concrete uses steel rebars that have been inserted to add strength.
