Rebar provides concrete with which type of strength?

• A. Compressive
• B. Tensile
• C. Shear
• D. Flexural

Answer: (B)

Rebar provides concrete with tensile strength. Concrete handles compression well but is weak in tension and cracks when pulled or bent. Steel reinforcement has high tensile strength and ductility, and when embedded in concrete, it carries the tensile forces that develop under load. The bond between steel and concrete lets them act together as a composite, giving the member much better resistance to bending and cracking than plain concrete alone.