Reinforced concrete

Reinforced concrete combines concrete with embedded steel or other reinforcement so the composite can resist both compressive and tensile forces.

Concrete: A composite construction material made by binding aggregates with cement paste, usually formed from cement, water, sand, and gravel. Concrete carries most compressive force, while embedded reinforcement compensates for its low tensile strength.
Portland cement: A hydraulic cement made by grinding clinker, typically with gypsum, that hardens through reaction with water. It is the common binder in concrete surrounding the reinforcement.
Reinforced concrete beam: A beam made of concrete with embedded reinforcement to resist bending and shear. Longitudinal bars resist bending tension, while transverse reinforcement can resist shear.
Joseph Monier: A French gardener and inventor who patented reinforced cement garden products in the 1860s. His patents helped establish the idea of embedding iron reinforcement in cement products.
Carbonation (concrete): A reaction in which atmospheric carbon dioxide penetrates concrete and lowers its alkalinity. Carbonation can remove the alkaline protection that prevents embedded steel from corroding.
Reinforcing bar: A steel bar embedded in concrete to carry tensile forces and improve structural performance. Ribbed bars transfer force to surrounding concrete through bond and mechanical interlock.
Hydration (cement chemistry): The chemical reactions between cement compounds and water that cause cement paste to set and harden. Hydration develops the hardened matrix that anchors steel and carries compression.
Reinforced concrete column: A vertical structural member of reinforced concrete designed mainly to carry axial load, often combined with bending. Columns use longitudinal bars and transverse ties to carry loads and restrain instability.
François Hennebique: A French builder and engineer who developed and promoted a reinforced-concrete construction system in the late nineteenth century. His system helped spread reinforced concrete as a framework for buildings and bridges.
Chloride-induced corrosion: Corrosion of reinforcing steel initiated when chloride ions penetrate concrete and disrupt its protective passive layer. Road salts and seawater can trigger this deterioration in reinforced structures.

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