A History of Reinforced Concrete: Journey to the Modern Day

Second only to water as the most utilised resource, concrete is the most commonly used man made substance on the planet. With the history of reinforced concrete spanning hundreds of years, this material has been highly influential in shaping the buildings and infrastructure of humankind. Read on to discover how concrete has impacted the modern world.

Early beginnings

While cement was used by ancient Arabian tribes and then the Romans, it wasn’t until the 18th Century that it saw a revival. As interest piqued in Classical civilisations, engineers began experimenting with new compounds. This led to the successful development of Portland cement - a generic term for a mix of materials such as limestone, shale or clay, heated to extremely high temperatures and finely ground. However, the challenge remained creating concrete with strong enough properties to withstand stresses - this is where the work of Frenchman François Hennebique comes into play.

François Hennebique

François Hennebique used inexpensive steel rods as reinforcement (rebar) within the concrete, giving it high tensile strength (the maximum stress that a material can withstand before breaking). By the beginning of the 20th century, Hennebique had licensed contractors across Europe. By the end of the first decade, his reinforced concrete system had been used in almost 20,000 structures and his company had more than 60 offices across four continents. In England, some of the most famous buildings constructed using his technique include Weaver’s Mill in Swansea and the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool.

World War I and II

At the start of the 20th Century, reinforced concrete was mostly used for utilitarian buildings and structures, such as warehouses and factories, bridges and roads. In the gap between the First and Second World War, architects began to embrace the freedoms and design possibilities of this exciting new material - they experimented endlessly with arches, spirals and curves.

Post-World War II, millions of buildings were damaged or destroyed by bombing. Low cost, reinforced concrete was widely used in the reconstruction process - especially in urban areas. Designs were typically plain and functional.

Brutalism

Brutalist architecture emerged in the 1960s and 1970s; the clearest visual manifestation of the design possibilities of concrete.

Monumental buildings (high rise flats, multi-storey car parks, universities, schools, leisure and shopping complexes, often with extensive road schemes) were constructed. This uncompromising dramatic style was versatile and cheap, changing the face of urban Britain. However, this style eventually fell out of favour after it was increasingly associated with urban decay and social deprivation.

The modern world

Today, reinforced concrete can be designed to create extraordinary forms, as well as taking on different textures and colours. Mass produced, reinforced concrete is used to construct utilitarian buildings all over the world but it has also been used to create some iconic landmarks. From the Sydney Opera House in Australia or the Gorges Dam in China, what’s certain is that concrete isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

If you’re in need of quality concrete, turn to Forth Valley Concrete. We’ll supply everything you need including concrete blocks, ready mix concrete and even provide durable materials for your concrete driveway. So don’t hesitate - get in touch with us today and find out what we can do for you.