Reinforced Concrete Materials—A Remarkable Heritage

Although reinforced concrete as known today was introduced in the middle of the nineteenth century, the materials from which it is made were developed over a period of several centuries. Most of the significant improvements in concrete and its reinforcement that relate to modern use in this country have occurred within the past 200 yr. Concrete, the one major construction material formulated by the civil engineer, has undergone great improvement in durability and steady improvement in strength. Many of the changes in concrete are related to its most critical constituent, portland cement. Concrete has been reinforced with many materials. But steel has always dominated and has been used in various sizes and shapes ranging from structural shaped sections to fibers. Current developments in the energy, ecological, and environmental areas indicate that reinforced concrete will be an important construction material in the future.