Reinforcement Bar (Rebar) and WWM (Wire Mesh) as-well-as Fiber and Admixtures
Concrete has exceptional compressive strength, the capacity to support tremendous sums of weight. Compressive strength is the amount of pressure required to crush concrete. As a simple rule of thumb, the greater the sum of aggregate in a concrete mix, the greater the compressive strength.
Relative to the compressive strength, the tensile strength of concrete is significantly less. Tensile strength is a measure of the chemical bond strength between the cement, aggregate and sand in a concrete mix, the amount of force required to pull concrete apart.
Concrete tensile strength is a measure of how well concrete stays glued together under torqueing, bending and twisting pressure.
It is because of concrete’s weak tensile strength that it must be reinforced with reinforcement bar (rebar) or wire mesh. Weak tensile strength is also the reason concrete additives like fiber and potash are used to supplement concrete mixes.
As such, it is as important to understand reinforcing materials as it is to understand concrete mix ratios.
Essentials of Rebar
Rebar is the most common reinforcing material and provides the most strength in concrete. The reinforcement potential of rebar is determined by the size of the rebar; the type of rebar; and the spacing of the rebar.