armatura

Armatura is a term used in several languages with different but related meanings. In historical and military contexts, it denotes the protective armor worn by combatants. European armor evolved from mail to full plate armor during the late Middle Ages, with helmets, cuirasses, gauntlets, and greaves forming a layered defense. Armor was designed to balance protection with mobility and varied by region and role. The rise of firearms and changing battlefield tactics led to the decline of practical armored suits in the early modern period, though armor remained a potent symbol in art and literature.

In construction and civil engineering, armatura refers to the reinforcing steel used in reinforced concrete structures. These ribbed bars, or rebar, provide tensile strength to compensate for concrete’s weakness in tension. They are specified by grade, diameter, and spacing, and are embedded in concrete and tied or welded together. Proper cover, corrosion protection, and anchorage are essential for structural integrity, especially in aggressive environments or seismic zones.

In electrical engineering, armatura (often rendered as armature in English) denotes the winding or conductors in machines such as motors and generators that interact with a magnetic field to induce current or torque. In direct-current machines, the armature carries the induced current and interfaces with a commutator; in alternating-current machines, armature windings may be on the rotor or stator, depending on the design.

Etymology traces armatura to Latin armatura meaning equipment or arms, extending to a framework or lining in modern usage. The term thus spans historical armor, concrete reinforcement, and electrical windings depending on context.