Question

What are the advantages of reinforced concrete beams compared with plain
concrete beams?

Answer 1

Before coming to the advantages of Beams of Plain concrete and reinforced concrete, it is very important to have some idea about the both types of concretes.

Plain Concrete -; Plain concrete is a mixture of water, cement, coarse aggregate and fine aggregate. Due to the presence of micro pores, plain concrete can withstand compressive forces hence Plain concrete is good in taking compression.

But in the case of a Beam, due to flexural action or bending action, one part of the beam experiences compression and other part experiences tension. But because of the presence of the micro pores in the concrete, it can not take tension. Hence the Plain concrete Beams will fail in the tension part.

To take care of the tension, generally steel bars are provided in the tension zones. So the concrete deals with compression and steel deals with tension. Concrete with steel bars are called as Reinforced Concrete.

[Steel is used as reinforcement in concrete because the Coefficient of Thermal expansion of Steel is nearly same as that of the Concrete]

Advantages -;

1. Load carrying capacity of RCC beam is more that of Plain Concrete beam.
2. Moment carrying capacity of RCC beam is more.
3. Depth requirment of the RCC beam is less.
4. Economic compared to Plain Concrete beam.
5. Can sustain dynamic loading if designed properly.