Aha Trivia Stuff Everyone Should Know
Aha Trivia: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahatrivia.com/mb-composite-materials-f159a905a7cc

Why is steel added to concrete to make reinforced concrete?

To help it resist stretching forces.

Start playing free

  1. To stop it setting
  2. To help it resist stretching forces ✔
  3. To make it lighter

Why: Concrete resists compression but not tension, so steel bars are added to resist stretching.

Huh, didn't know that: Concrete resists compression but not tension, so steel bars are added to resist stretching.

The dad joke
Steel standing by!
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: To help it resist stretching forces. Concrete resists compression but not tension, so steel bars are added to resist stretching.

  1. Composite material en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_material
    steel bars, which can resist high stretching (tensile) forces, are often added to concrete
    Checked 2026-11-07.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

EngineeringWhat two main parts make up a typical engineered composite?EngineeringWhy are the ingredients in a composite still visible as separate parts?EngineeringWhat is a composite with more than one distinct layer called?

That's stuff everyone should know.