Reinforced concrete is a composite material made of concrete] and reinforcing steel ( reinforcement). Concrete has a relatively low tensile strength, whereas reinforcing steel has a high tensile strength.
The different material strengths are used for the load-bearing concept of reinforced concrete as a material: A reinforced concrete component is reinforced with reinforcing steel at locations subjected to tension. The compressive loading in the structural component is absorbed by the concrete.
If the concrete is overloaded, the reinforcing steel is also used to increase the compressive load on the reinforced concrete component. The reinforcement in the reinforced concrete component is divided into tension and compression reinforcement.