Advantages and Disadvantages of Reinforced Cement Concrete

Advantages:

R.C.C has following advantages over other construction materials:

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. Now a days Ready Mix Concrete is used faster and better construction.

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:

1. R.C.C structures are heavier than structures of other materials like steel, wood and glass etc.
2. R.C.C needs lot of formwork, centering and shuttering to be fixed, thus require lot of site space and skilled labour.
3. Concrete takes time to attain its full strength. Thus, R.C.C structures can’t be used immediately after construction unlike steel structures.