A reinforced shrinkage compensating concrete slab has a major outer and inner faces defining a slab thickness and a centroid portion surrounded by a peripheral portion having outer peripheral edges defining a bulkhead length and width. A first plurality of reinforcing bars is embedded within the concrete slab on a plane which is substantially parallel to the major outer and inner faces. The first reinforcing bars extend in a first array having a first dimension defining a first on-centers-each-way orientation. A second plurality of reinforcing bars is embedded within the peripheral portion of the concrete slab in a second array which is a substantially intersecting and coplanar construction in relation to the first reinforcing bars. The second plurality of reinforcing bars are restricted to the peripheral portion and aligned with the expansive and shrinkage forces on a second dimension defining a second on-centers-each-way orientation so that the expansive and shrinkage forces are restrained.