In This Section

Other Sources for Answers

Search other resources on the ACI website for answers to technical questions

Technical Questions

ACI Committees, Membership, and Staff have answered common questions on a variety of concrete related topics.



The importance of reinforcement in concrete

Q. Why is reinforced concrete used?

 

A. Concrete without reinforcement is weak in tension. The tensile strength of concrete is about 10% of its compressive strength. Therefore, concrete is used with reinforcement when tensile stresses exceeding the tensile strength of concrete are expected.

 

References:  SP-1(02); ACI 318-19; E2-00

Topics in Concrete: 318 Building Code; Concrete Fundamentals; Reinforcement