User:Cjclemo/Concrete Frames

The most used material on this planet, concrete has been utilized since Egyptian and Roman times to create buildings like the Pantheon. Because of its flexibility when freshly mixed and its durability when hardened, concrete and reinforced concrete frame structures are used in the construction of skyscrapers, roads, bridges, and dams. Also known as a concrete skeleton, this structure is comprised of beams, frames, and columns with the latter being the most important since its the primary load carrying component of the construct. Any damage to a beam of slab will only affect the one floor of the building in question, but column damage has the potential to destroy the entire structure. Resting on foundations, the frame transfers the forces from the building to the ground. Reinforced concrete frame structures are commonly used for this construction since the concrete is strong in compression while the steel rebar is stronger in tension.

Concept
Connected by rigid joints, reinforced concrete frames consist of beams and columns. With the beams and columns casted in a single operation to act in unison, reinforced concrete frames provide resistance to lateral loads and gravity due to the bends in the beams and columns. Common subtypes of this frame include: Nonductile reinforced concrete frames with or without infill walls, ductile reinforced concrete frames with or without infill walls, and nonductile reinforced concrete frames with reinforced infill walls.

Masonry Infills
Most prevalent type are these: RC frames with concrete infill walls, commonly referred to as dual systems, are typically used in earthquake prone areas like Turkey, Colombia, and Greece.

Advantages
While being the most fire resistant material around, concrete frames are stronger, safer, less costly, and more energy efficient than steel buildings.