Tensile Strength:

Concrete has low tensile strength. It is just 10 % of the compressive strength. Due to low tensile strength, concrete is not used to resist tensile forces. In reinforced cement concrete works, reinforcement is provided for bearing tensile stresses. The tensile strength is of great significance in resisting cracking due to change in moisture content or temperature. The measurement of tensile strength of concrete is very difficult. The most practical method is to measure the tensile strength in bending which is usually called flexural strength.

Bond Strength

The property of adhesion between concrete and steel reinforcement is called its bond strength. This is of concrete depends on its compressive strength and the surface characteristics of the steel bars. Bond strength is more for bars in compression than bars in tension. The bond strength can be increased by using deformed bars instead of plain bars and by decreasing the water cement ratio.

Shear Strength           

Shear strength is about half of the compressive strength. Shearing of concrete is always accompanied by tension and compression due to bending. Concrete fails in shear due to diagonal tension.