Advantages and disadvantages of Reinforced cement concrete

(R.C.C)

Advantages of R.C.C.

Strength : R.C.C. has very good strength in tension as well as compression.

Durability : R.C.C. structures are durable if designed and laid properly. They can last
up to 100 years.

Mouldability : R.C.C. sections can be given any shape easily by properly designing the
formwork. Thus, it is more suitable for architectural requirements.

Ductility : The steel reinforcement imparts ductility to the R.C.C. structures.

Economy : R.C.C. is cheaper as compared to steel and prestressed concrete. There is

an overall economy by using R.C.C. because its maintenance cost is low.

Transportation : The raw materials which are required for R.C.C. i.e., cement, sand
aggregate, water and steel are easily available and can be transported easily. Nowadays Ready
Mix Concrete (RMC) is used for faster and better construction. (RMC is the concrete which is
manufactured in the factory and transported to the site in green or plastic state).

Fire Resistance : R.C.C. structures are more fire resistant than other commonly used
construction materials like steel and wood.

Permeability : R.C.C. is almost impermeable to moisture.

Seismic Resistance : Properly designed R.C.C. structures are extremely resistant to earthquakes.

Disadvantages of R.C.C. :

Despite the above mentioned advantages, R.C.C. has following

disadvantages :

R.C.C. structures are heavier than structures of other materials like steel, wood and glass etc.

R.C.C. needs lot of form-work, centering and shuttering to be fixed, thus require lot of site space
and skilled labour.

Concrete takes time to attain its full strength. Thus, R.C.C. structures can’t be used immediately
after construction unlike steel structures.
 Types of Concrete Admixtures
Concrete admixtures are of different types and they are as follows:

1. Water Reducing Admixtures

2. Retarding Admixtures
3. Accelerating Admixtures
4. Air entraining concrete admixture
5. Pozzolanic Admixtures
6. Damp-proofing Admixtures
7. Gas forming Admixtures
8. Air detraining Admixtures
9. Alkali Aggregate Expansion Inhibiting Admixtures
10. Anti-washout Admixtures
11. Grouting Admixtures
12. Corrosion Inhibiting Admixtures
13. Bonding Admixtures
14. Fungicidal, Germicidal, Insecticidal Admixtures
15. Coloring Admixtures

1. What is Poisson’s Ratio and where can it be significance in concrete work?

Poisson’s Ratio Of Concrete | Lateral Strains | Longitudinal Strains | Poisson’s Ratio

Limits
Poison’s ratio is the ratio between lateral strains and longitudinal strains. Poisson’s
ratio, mathematically can be given as:

V=fracLateralStrainLongitudnalStrain
V= – (lateral strain)/(longitudnal strain)

When compressive force acts on a specimen then with the increase in force, two types
of strains that will crop in the specimen of concrete. Both strains are opposite in
direction, one is along x-axis that we call as longitudinal strain and second is in vertical
direction, that is produce due to reduction in volume(when compressive load acts on
specimen). These strains are named as:

1. Lateral strains/ vertical strains

2. Longitudinal strains/ horizontal strains
 Poisson’s Ratio

Poisson’s ratio = v = (∆x/2)/(∆y/2)

LATERAL STRAINS/ VERTICAL STRAINS

When load acts on concrete specimen, than aggregates that are smaller in size get
crushed and powder is form. Now when more load acts, this powder is not able to resist
the load and now lateral strains produce due to reduction in volume. Larger particles
also get crushed with the application of load, but due to more density than smaller
aggregates, these will crushed in later stages.

LONGITUDINAL STRAINS/ HORIZONTAL STRAINS

When compressive load acts on a concrete specimen then with the rise in load,
specimen trying to expand, but friction between the specimen and platen (it is in
between the specimen and load testing machine.

It is used while testing compressive strength of concrete) try to cancel this expansion.
Up to the strength of concrete this friction cancels out horizontal strains, but as the
applied load crosses the limit of strength. Strains start occurring in longitudinal direction.

RANGE OF POISSON’S RATIO (POISSON’S RATIO LIMITS)

Poisson’s ratio value varies with the type of specimen i. e whether dry, wet or saturated
or how load will act on the specimen. Poison’s ratio in normal conditions varies from
0.15-0.2, but this value is continuously increasing or decreasing with the variations in
loading conditions.

For static load conditions, poison’s ratio is smaller as compared to dynamic load where
it is almost about 0.20-0.25.

FACTORS AFFECTING CREEP OF CONCRETE:

The factors that affect creep of concrete are similar to the factors affecting shrinkage,
which are as following:
1. WATER-CEMENT RATIO:
The rate of creep is increased with increasing water cement ratio.
2. HUMIDITY:
It is influenced by humidity and drying condition of the atmosphere.
3. AGE OF CONCRETE:
The rate of creep rapidly decreases with time. The time taken by a concrete structure to
attained creep is 5 years.
4. AGGREGATE:
Aggregates with moisture movement and low elastic modulus cause a large amount of
creep. The rate of creep generally decreases with the increase of the size of
aggregates.
5. ADMIXTURES:
Some admixtures (mainly accelerators) are also responsible for causing creep in
concrete.

OTHER FACTORS:
1. Types of cement.
2. Entrained air.
3. Concrete strength.
Thus, creep can be reduced by using the minimum amount of water possible in
the concrete mix. Also, large coarse aggregate reduces creep.

5. Why do surfaces of reinforcing bars have rolled on deformation?

Rebar's surface is often deformed to promote a better bond with the concrete. This bond
strength is proportional to the contact surface of the steel to the concrete. In other
words, the greater the surface of steel exposed to the adherence of concrete, the
stronger the bond. A deformed reinforcing bar adheres better than a plain, round, or
square one because it has a greater bearing surface. The rougher the surface of the
steel, the better it adheres to concrete.

6. What factors that influence the magnitude of the earthquake load on a structure?

Various factors such as brittle columns, stiffness elements, flexible ground floor,
short columns, shapes, sizes, number of storeys, type of foundation, location of
adjacent buildings, structural layouts etc. affects the degree of damages to
buildings during earthquakes.
 Republic of the Philippines
Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

Assignment in
Reinforced
Concrete

Submitted By:
Argel joseph DC. Bote
BSCE 5G

Submitted To:
Engr. Allan DM. Abenoja, Jr.
Professor