TOLIBAS, TEJAY L.

BSCE – 5C

1.) Define Concrete

Concrete is a composite material, which is made from a mixture of cement, aggregate
(sand or gravel), water and sometimes admixtures in required proportions. It is one of the most
important and useful materials for construction work. When all the ingredients (cement,
aggregate, water) are mixed in the required proportions, the cement and water start a reaction
with each other to bind themselves into a hardens mass. This hardens rock-like mass is known as
concrete.
2.) Define Reinforced Concrete
Reinforced concrete (RC) is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile
strength and ductility are counteracted by the inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile
strength and/or ductility. Reinforcing schemes are generally designed to resist tensile stresses in
particular regions of the concrete that might cause unacceptable cracking and/or structural
failure. Reinforced concrete is one of the most widely used modern building materials. It is widely
used for construction on a large scale due to its desirable mechanical properties.
3.) Properties of Reinforced Concrete

 The coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete is similar to that of steel, eliminating

large internal stresses due to differences in thermal expansion or contraction.
 When the cement paste within the concrete hardens, this conforms to the surface details
of the steel, permitting any stress to be transmitted efficiently between the different
materials. Usually steel bars are roughened or corrugated to further improve the bond or
cohesion between the concrete and steel.
 The alkaline chemical environment provided by the alkali reserve (KOH, NaOH) and the
portlandite (calcium hydroxide) contained in the hardened cement paste causes a
passivating film to form on the surface of the steel, making it much more resistant to
corrosion than it would be in neutral or acidic conditions. When the cement paste is
exposed to the air and meteoric water reacts with the atmospheric CO2, portlandite and
the calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) of the hardened cement paste become progressively
carbonated and the high pH gradually decreases from 13.5 – 12.5 to 8.5, the pH of water
in equilibrium with calcite (calcium carbonate) and the steel is no longer passivated.
4.) Advantages of Reinforced Concrete

 Reinforced concrete has a high compressive strength compared to other building

materials.
 Due to the provided reinforcement, reinforced concrete can also withstand a good
amount of tensile stress.
 Fire and weather resistance of reinforced concrete is fair.
 The reinforced concrete building system is more durable than any other building system.
 Reinforced concrete, as a fluid material, in the beginning, can be economically molded
into a nearly limitless range of shapes.
 The maintenance cost of reinforced concrete is very low.
 In structures like footings, dams, piers etc. reinforced concrete is the most economical
construction material.
 It acts like a rigid member with minimum deflection.
 As reinforced concrete, can be molded to any shape required, it is widely used in precast
structural components. It yields rigid members with minimum apparent deflection.
 Compared to the use of steel in structure, reinforced concrete requires less skilled labor
for the erection of the structure.
5.) Disadvantages of Reinforced Concrete

 The tensile strength of reinforced concrete is about one-tenth of its compressive strength.
 The main steps of using reinforced concrete are mixing, casting, and curing. All of this
affects the final strength.
 The cost of the forms used for casting RC is relatively higher.
 For multi-storied building the RCC column section for is larger than steel section as the
compressive strength is lower in the case of RCC.
 Shrinkage causes crack development and strength loss.
OBLIGADO, JHON RYAN J. BSCE – 5C

1.) Define Concrete

Concrete is a composite material, which is made from a mixture of cement, aggregate
(sand or gravel), water and sometimes admixtures in required proportions. It is one of the most
important and useful materials for construction work. When all the ingredients (cement,
aggregate, water) are mixed in the required proportions, the cement and water start a reaction
with each other to bind themselves into a hardens mass. This hardens rock-like mass is known as
concrete.
2.) Define Reinforced Concrete
Reinforced concrete (RC) is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile
strength and ductility are counteracted by the inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile
strength and/or ductility. Reinforcing schemes are generally designed to resist tensile stresses in
particular regions of the concrete that might cause unacceptable cracking and/or structural
failure. Reinforced concrete is one of the most widely used modern building materials. It is widely
used for construction on a large scale due to its desirable mechanical properties.
3.) Properties of Reinforced Concrete

 The coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete is similar to that of steel, eliminating

large internal stresses due to differences in thermal expansion or contraction.
 When the cement paste within the concrete hardens, this conforms to the surface details
of the steel, permitting any stress to be transmitted efficiently between the different
materials. Usually steel bars are roughened or corrugated to further improve the bond or
cohesion between the concrete and steel.
 The alkaline chemical environment provided by the alkali reserve (KOH, NaOH) and the
portlandite (calcium hydroxide) contained in the hardened cement paste causes a
passivating film to form on the surface of the steel, making it much more resistant to
corrosion than it would be in neutral or acidic conditions. When the cement paste is
exposed to the air and meteoric water reacts with the atmospheric CO2, portlandite and
the calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) of the hardened cement paste become progressively
carbonated and the high pH gradually decreases from 13.5 – 12.5 to 8.5, the pH of water
in equilibrium with calcite (calcium carbonate) and the steel is no longer passivated.
4.) Advantages of Reinforced Concrete

 Reinforced concrete has a high compressive strength compared to other building

materials.
 Due to the provided reinforcement, reinforced concrete can also withstand a good
amount of tensile stress.
 Fire and weather resistance of reinforced concrete is fair.
 The reinforced concrete building system is more durable than any other building system.
 Reinforced concrete, as a fluid material, in the beginning, can be economically molded
into a nearly limitless range of shapes.
 The maintenance cost of reinforced concrete is very low.
 In structures like footings, dams, piers etc. reinforced concrete is the most economical
construction material.
 It acts like a rigid member with minimum deflection.
 As reinforced concrete, can be molded to any shape required, it is widely used in precast
structural components. It yields rigid members with minimum apparent deflection.
 Compared to the use of steel in structure, reinforced concrete requires less skilled labor
for the erection of the structure.
5.) Disadvantages of Reinforced Concrete

 The tensile strength of reinforced concrete is about one-tenth of its compressive strength.
 The main steps of using reinforced concrete are mixing, casting, and curing. All of this
affects the final strength.
 The cost of the forms used for casting RC is relatively higher.
 For multi-storied building the RCC column section for is larger than steel section as the
compressive strength is lower in the case of RCC.
 Shrinkage causes crack development and strength loss.