How does the reinforced concrete become strong? Among the most celebrated writers on material strength and construction integrity, readers find Edward G. Nawy’s “Reinforced Concrete A Fundamental Approach” as an invaluable reference. In this discourse, Dr Nawy’s perspectives on structural engineering provide resourceful insightful, with regard to material strength involving reinforced concrete. The main content of this discourse covers various techniques that Dr Nawy recommends for concrete reinforcement. Overall, the paper attempts to provide answers to the question on how concrete treated with reinforcement gains strength from the involved procedures. Ordinarily, concrete experiences tensile weakness and compression forces that make it necessary to introduce engineering techniques to improve its stability (Nawy 2009, p.75). The element of tensile weakness in concrete originates from weight and loads on the structure, which necessitates reinforcement in concrete structures to offer resistance against tension. Information on the compression zone in beams assists the introduction of reinforcement across beam sections. Through the introduction of steel loads, structures acquire reinforcement through reduction of long-term deflections thereby vastly increasing structure efficiency. Ultimately, material qualities of the composite structure from concrete and steel reinforcement enable high resistance to tensile and compressive forces. Types of Reinforcement Steel and Crucial Properties of Reinforcing Steel The technique of concrete reinforcement employs various types of steel bars, certain types of strong wires and often the use of welded wire fabric to achieve the same results. Certain high ASTM construction standards and guidelines given to manufacturers ensure that the reinforcement material achieves the desired results. Some of the attributes observed in these materials include the following.  1. Desired diameter and size for various bar types and wires  2. Steel grade designation  3. Ultimate strength, f u  4. Yield strength, f y  5. Young’s modulus, E s As illustrated in Figure 1 below, various modifications referred to as surface deformations enhance the surfaces of the bars for purposes of bonding between reinforcement material and concrete. Nawy (2009, p.76) reckons that the modification must attain such deformations as needed to comply with the requirements laid down in ASTM regulations. Fig 1: Different types of reinforcement bars deformed to achieve ASTM approval How to Space and Cover the Steel Bars with Concrete In terms of covering the steel used for reinforcements, Nawy (2009, p.71) recommends that the concrete mixture must completely provide cover to the steel bars. Full covering facilitates protection of the bars from factors of corrosion that aggravate weaknesses in the structure, for instance in cases of fires. Nawy’s observation originates from the ACI Code. Regulation number 318 requires a thin layer of concrete cover over all the reinforcement steel bars to prevent corrosion from exposure. To achieve such results, the concrete mix must penetrate evenly and thoroughly through spaces around the steel bars. Key Elements of Reinforced Concrete As earli