Concrete as a construction
material
What Is Concrete Used For?
•
Construction Material
Art Work
Concrete Bench made by 8th
grade students
Question
• What other concrete products and
applications can you think of ?
Why Is Concrete Used?
• Economics
– Inexpensive, readily available
• Material Properties
–
–
–
–
Long Lasting
Molded into a desired shape
Great insulator
Hard
Material Properties (cont.)
• Great Compressive Strength (up to 8000
psi)
• Poor Tensile Strength (almost 0)
– Reinforcement methods ($)
Question
• What is the difference between tension and
compression?
Question
• Why would concrete ever be used in
tension?
Why Do We Reinforce Concrete?
• Prevent cracking due to tension forces
How Do We Reinforce Concrete?
• Steel rebar
– Excellent in tension, poor in compression
• Chicken Wire
– Minimize thermal expansion
Pictures
• Failed concrete structures due to earth
quakes