verstevigd

Verstevigd is the past participle of the Dutch verb verstevigen, meaning to strengthen, reinforce, or stiffen. As an adjective, it describes objects that have undergone reinforcement or gained additional structural stiffness. The term is common in construction, civil engineering, and material science, where it signals that a component has been fortified to bear higher loads or resist deformation.

Etymology and usage: Verstevigen derives from verstevig- plus the verb suffix -en; the root stevig means sturdy or robust. The prefix ver- often indicates completion or intensification. In technical language, verstevigd is attached to nouns to form compound descriptors, for example verstevigde balk (reinforced beam), verstevigde pijp (reinforced pipe), or verstevigd glas (reinforced glass). It is sometimes used interchangeably with versterkt or wapening, depending on context and industry conventions.

Examples and scope: In construction, verstevigd concrete is sometimes used informally to refer to reinforced concrete, though the standard Dutch term is gewapend beton. In metalworking or piping, verstevigde details can involve thicker walls, added ribs, or bolted connections to increase stiffness. In material testing or retrofitting, a component may be described as verstevigd after undergoing fabrication changes to improve strength.

See also: verstevigen, versterking, gewapend beton, wapening.