ickearmerad

Ickearmerad, or icke-armerad in Swedish, refers to materials or structural elements that lack internal reinforcement, such as steel bars or fibers. The term is commonly used in Nordic and Swedish construction contexts to distinguish reinforced from unreinforced configurations. It can describe unreinforced concrete (betong utan armering) and unreinforced masonry, among other materials.

In unreinforced concrete, the strength under compression is high, but the material has limited tensile capacity. This makes it susceptible to cracking under bending or stress and prone to brittle failure if cracks propagate. Performance depends on factors like quality of curing, weather exposure, and load duration. Unreinforced concrete generally has lower ductility and is less able to accommodate movements without cracking compared with reinforced concrete.

Applications and considerations

Unreinforced elements are typically used where tensile stresses are minimal, spans are short, or loads are small, such as certain non-structural components, decorative features, or some pavements and foundations in low-load situations. Modern building codes in many regions require reinforcement for structural elements to improve strength, ductility, and seismic resilience. Unreinforced masonry walls, for example, are common in older buildings but can pose significant seismic risks in earthquake-prone areas unless retrofitted.

Retrofit options include adding steel reinforcement, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) wraps, or stitching and grouting for masonry. The choice depends on the element, load demands, and local regulations.

See also: reinforced concrete, unreinforced concrete, unreinforced masonry.