Disadvantage & Advantages of Steel Reinforcement, Purpose of Reinforcement

What is Steel Reinforcement?

Steel 

Steel reinforcement are steel bars that are provided in combination with plain cement concrete to make it reinforced concrete. Hence these structures form steel reinforced cement concrete structure (R.C.C). Steel reinforcement is commonly called as ‘rebars’.

What is the Purpose of Reinforcement ? 

Steel reinforcement bars or rebars are used to improve the tensile strength of the concrete, we all know that since concrete is very weak in tension, but is strong in compression. The tensile property provided by the steel reinforcement will prevent and minimize concrete cracks under tension loads. Steel is only used as rebar because elongation of steel due to high temperatures nearly equals to that of concrete.

Advantages of Steel Reinforcement

Steel reinforcement is a reinforcing choice compared to other reinforcing materials due to its unique advantages. They are:

1. Stainless steels are easy to handle, manipulate and weld and can withstand damage and abrasion during installation when compared with galvanized and coated steels.
2. Compatibility with Concrete:

The fresh concrete is placed on the formwork mold already prepared with reinforcement. The steel reinforcement won’t float in concrete during the concrete placing procedure. Hence, steel reinforcement does not demand special tying up with formworks.

3. Robustness of Steel Reinforcement:

The steel reinforcement bars are robust in nature that they have the ability to withstand the severity, the wear and tear during the construction activities.

4. Bent Property of Steel Reinforcement:

Steel reinforcement can be bent to the required shape size and specification although the steel bars once manufactured to standard size. Hence fabricated steel bars are delivered easily at the site.

5. Recycling Property:

After steel reinforced left over the service life of a structure is recycled again and used for new construction.

6. Easily Available:

It is easily available at any reason region. Every region of a country will have a steel supplier or manufacturer. Hence steel reinforcement is easily available.

            7.      Elastic :

Steel reinforcement has high solidarity to weight proportion which implies it has high quality per unit mass. So no matter how huge the general structure is, the steel areas will be small and lightweight, unlike other building structure materials.

Disadvantages of Steel Reinforcement

The main disadvantages of steel reinforcement are mentioned below:

1. Reactive Nature of Steel Reinforcement:

In concrete structures where the cover is small and subjected to external moisture and salt action, the reinforcement undergoes reaction and starts to corrode. These can lessen the strength of concrete and finally to failure.

             2.      At higher temperatures, the steel reinforcement may liquefy. This is the motivation behind                    why the steel support is tied up and not welded.

3. Expensive:

The cost of steel reinforcement in high. This will increase the cost of construction

4. Melts at high temperature:

At higher temperatures, the steel reinforcement may melt. This is the reason why the steel reinforcement are tied up and not welded.

All these factors will show the advantages & disadvantages of steel reinforcement structures.