Reinforced concrete

Plain concrete resists compression but it is weak in tension. Steel is vulnerable to corrosion (rust) and to temperatures in excess of 500 F. When these two materials are combined in some ways they work well giving a very strong and valuable building material known as reinforced concrete.

Reinforced steel is embedded at predetermined position in the cross-section of flexural members and then cast with concrete. The steel carries the tension while the concrete protects the former against corrosion, fire or damage. It is important that reinforced steel should be placed accurately and well secured in position by soft iron wire. Plenty of space should be left between bars for each to be well surrounded with concrete as well as between the bars and the forms. The minimum clear space should be greater than the maximum dimension of the coarse aggregate.

Conventional concrete reinforcement is usually in the form of bars, rods, wire mesh or steel plates. At present in building and bridge construction practically all portions of a structure such as beams, girders, slabs and columns are made of reinforced concrete. Other specialized applications of this type of concrete are domes, arches, retaining (or retained) walls, pressure pipes, and pipes, and bins. Spread footings, runway pavements are essentially reinforced slabs. In general, it is uneconomic to reinforce highway pavements, so mesh is more often used to tie slabs together.

2. Answer the following questions:

1. How is reinforced concrete obtained? 2. Where is reinforced steel embedded to? 3. What protects reinforced concrete against tension and corrosion? 4. How is reinforced steel placed? 5. In what forms is reinforcement used? 6. What parts are usually of reinforced concrete in building?

III. Comprehension and Word Study.

1. Translate the following word combinations into English:

Обычный бетон; подвергаться коррозии; ценный строительный материал; железобетон; поперечное сечение; защищать от коррозии, огня, повреждений; максимальный размер; бетонная арматура; балка; плита; ферма; купол; арка; подпорная стена; дорожное и шоссейное покрытие.

2. Fill in the blanks with prepositions:

1. Steel is vulnerable ___ corrosion. 2. Reinforced steel is embedded ___ predetermined position. 3. Concrete protects the steel ______ corrosion, fire or damage. 4. Plenty ___ space should be left between bars. 5. Concrete reinforcement is usually in the form ___ bars, rods, wire mesh or steel plates. 6. Beams, girders, slabs and columns are made ___ reinforced concrete.

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian:

1. It is important that reinforced steel should be secured in position by iron wire. 2. It is impossible that they should have placed reinforcing steel carelessly. 3. It is necessary that plenty of space should be left between bars. 4. It is important that each bar should be surrounded by concrete. 5. It is impossible that the minimum clear space between bars should be less than the maximum dimension of the coarse aggregate.

4. Put questions to the underlined words:

1. Reinforced steel is embedded at predetermined position in the cross-section of flexural members and then cast with concrete. 2. When steel and concrete are combined they give a very strong and valuable building material. 3. It is uneconomic to reinforce highway pavements, so mesh is more often used to tie slabs together.

IV. Post-reading activities

1. Make up dialogues using the text “Reinforced Concrete” according to the following steps:

1. Plain concrete. 2. Combination of steel and concrete. 3. Position of reinforced steel. 4. Different applications of reinforced concrete.

2. Be ready to speak about “Reinforced Concrete”.

V. Supplementary Reading.

1. Read and translate the text: