08/10/2026
Something interesting a lot of people don’t know about concrete 👇
A lot of people think rebar is put in concrete to keep it from cracking. That’s not exactly what it does.
Concrete is extremely strong in compression (pushing), but weak in tension (pulling and stretching).
That’s where rebar comes in. 💪 It provides tensile strength, helping concrete handle bending and pulling forces while keeping cracks controlled and the concrete together.
Take a look at this picture of the Seven Mile Bridge — you can actually see concrete hanging off the side while the rebar is still holding it together.
Concrete handles the compression. Rebar handles the tension. Together, they make reinforced concrete.
Just another reason proper rebar placement matters! 🏗️💪