Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Reinforced concrete \Re`in*forced con"crete\ Concrete having within its mass a system of iron or steel supports, such as bars, rods, or a heavy mesh, to provide increased tensile strength and shear resistance. Same as Ferro-concrete. [Also spelled reenforced concrete.]
Wiktionary
n. A building material made from Portland cement concrete with a matrix of steel bars or wires (rebars) to increase its tensile strength.
WordNet
n. concrete with metal and/or mesh added to provide extra support against stresses [syn: ferroconcrete]
Wikipedia
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. The reinforcement is usually, though not necessarily, steel reinforcing bars ( rebar) and is usually embedded passively in the concrete before the concrete sets. Reinforcing schemes are generally designed to resist tensile stresses in particular regions of the concrete that might cause unacceptable cracking and/or structural failure. Modern reinforced concrete can contain varied reinforcing materials made of steel, polymers or alternate composite material in conjunction with rebar or not. Reinforced concrete may also be permanently stressed (in compression), so as to improve the behaviour of the final structure under working loads. In the United States, the most common methods of doing this are known as pre-tensioning and post-tensioning.
For a strong, ductile and durable construction the reinforcement needs to have the following properties at least:
- High relative strength
- High toleration of tensile strain
- Good bond to the concrete, irrespective of pH, moisture, and similar factors
- Thermal compatibility, not causing unacceptable stresses in response to changing temperatures.
- Durability in the concrete environment, irrespective of corrosion or sustained stress for example.
Usage examples of "reinforced concrete".
He also concurred with Raubach and Partin that the pressure necessary to destroy reinforced concrete is in the 2,500 to 4,000 p.
The lower building had been partially covered by alluvial deposits, but otherwise was protected overhead and on the river side only by its three-foot-thick reinforced concrete walls.
The buildings near the station were three stories tall and appeared prefab, steel-reinforced concrete painted bright blue and white.
Coke left the pair in a very flat V, end to end, almost parallel to the reinforced concrete facade.
So we started by marking out the limits of the foundations in length and breadth and gathered from the plan that they were to be laid three mleters deep and of reinforced concrete.
Around it were apartment buildings in the hideous style the humans seemed to like, boxy things of steel-reinforced concrete.
Under each table was a full meter of reinforced concrete footings.