Rebar

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For the company, see Rebar (Taiwan).
A tied rebar beam cage. This will be embedded inside of cast concrete to lend it strength.
A tied rebar beam cage. This will be embedded inside of cast concrete to lend it strength.

Rebar, a portmanteau for reinforcing bar or reinforcement bar, is common steel bar, is commonly used in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures. It is usually formed from carbon steel, and is given ridges for better frictional adhesion to the concrete. It can also be described as reinforcement or reinforcing steel. In Australia it is colloquially known as reo.

Contents

[edit] Use in concrete and masonry

Concrete is a material that is very strong in compression, but virtually without strength in tension. To compensate for this imbalance in concrete's behavior, rebar is cast into it to carry the tensile loads.

Masonry structures and the mortar holding them together have similar properties to concrete and also have a limited ability to carry tensile loads. Some standard masonry units like blocks and bricks are made with strategically placed voids to accommodate rebar, which is then secured in place with grout. This combination is known as reinforced masonry.

While any material with sufficient tensile strength could conceivably be used to reinforce concrete, steel and concrete have similar coefficients of thermal expansion: a concrete structural member reinforced with steel will experience minimal stress as a result of differential expansions of the two interconnected materials caused by temperature changes.

[edit] Physical characteristics

Steel has an expansion coefficient nearly equal to that of modern concrete. If this weren't so, it would be useless for reinforcing concrete.[1] Although rebar has ridges that bind it mechanically to the concrete with friction, it can still be pulled out of the concrete under high stresses, an occurrence that often precedes a larger-scale collapse of the structure. To prevent such a failure, rebar is either deeply embedded into adjacent structural members, or bent and hooked at the ends to lock it around the concrete and other rebar. This first approach increases the friction locking the bar into place while the second makes use of the high compressive strength of concrete.

Common rebar is made of unfinished steel, making it susceptible to rusting. As rust takes up greater volume than the iron or steel from which it was formed, it causes severe internal pressure on the surrounding concrete, leading to cracking, spalling, and ultimately, structural failure. This is a particular problem where the concrete is exposed to salt water, as in bridges built in areas where salt is applied to roadways in winter, or in marine applications. Epoxy-coated, galvanized or stainless steel clad rebar may be employed in these situations at greater initial expense, but significantly lower expense over the service life of the project. Fiber-reinforced polymer rebar is now also being used in high-corrosion environments.

A tied rebar beam cage.

Rebars in detail (top) atop angle iron (bottom).

Rebar placement for foundation and walls of a sewage pump station.

Two coils of common rebar.

Simple tie with wire joining rebar.

Metal plastic tipped bar chairs supporting rebar to give correct cover on a suspended slab with reinforced concrete masonry walls.

Plastic strip bar chairs supporting heavy rebar on suspended slab.

Bottom layer of rebar in place on a suspended slab. The N12 saddle bars at an angle to the main bars are to support the top layer of rebar not yet in place.

[edit] Rebar sizes and grades

[edit] U.S. Imperial sizes

Imperial bar designations represent the bar diameter in fractions of ⅛ inch, such that #8 = 8⁄8 inch = 1 inch diameter. This convention applies to #8 and smaller bars only.

Imperial

Bar Size

 "Soft"

Metric Size

 Weight

(lb⁄ft)

 Weight

(kg/m)

 Nominal Diameter

(in)

 Nominal Diameter

(mm)

 Nominal Area

(in²)

 Nominal Area

(mm²)
#3 #10 0.376 0.561 0.375 9.525 0.11 71
#4 #13 0.668 0.996 0.500 12.7 0.20 129
#5 #16 1.043 1.556 0.625 15.875 0.31 200
#6 #19 1.502 2.24 0.750 19.05 0.44 284
#7 #22 2.044 3.049 0.875 22.225 0.60 387
#8 #25 2.670 3.982 1.000 25.4 0.79 509
#9 #29 3.400 5.071 1.128 28.65 1.00 645
#10 #32 4.303 6.418 1.270 32.26 1.27 819
#11 #36 5.313 7.924 1.410 35.81 1.56 1006
#14 #43 7.650 11.41 1.693 43 2.25 1452
#18 #57 13.60 20.284 2.257 57.33 4.00 2581

[edit] Canadian metric sizes

Metric bar designations represent the nominal bar diameter in millimeters, rounded to the nearest 5 mm.

Metric

Bar Size

 Mass

(kg/m)

 Nominal Diameter

(mm)

 Cross-Sectional

Area (mm²)
#10 M 0.785 11.3 100
#15 M 1.570 16.0 200
#20 M 2.355 19.5 300
#25 M 3.925 25.2 500
#30 M 5.495 29.9 700
#35 M 7.850 35.7 1000
#45 M 11.775 43.7 1500
#55 M 19.625 56.4 2500

[edit] European metric sizes

Metric bar designations represent the nominal bar diameter in millimetres. Bars in Europe will be specified to comply with the standard EN 10080 (awaiting introduction as of early 2007), although various national standards still remain in force (e.g. BS 4449 in the United Kingdom).

Metric

Bar Size

 Mass

(kg/m)

 Nominal Diameter

(mm)

 Cross-Sectional

Area (mm²)
6,0 0.222 6 28.3
8,0 0.395 8 50.3
10,0 0.617 10 78.5
12,0 0.888 12 113
14,0 1.21 14 154
16,0 1.579 16 201
20,0 2.467 20 314
25,0 3.855 25 491
28,0 4.83 28 616
32,0 6.316 32 804
40,0 9.868 40 1257
50,0 15.413 50 1963

[edit] Grades

Rebar is available in different grades and specifications that vary in yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, chemical composition, and percentage of elongation.

The grade designation is equal to the minimum yield strength of the bar in ksi (1000 psi) for example grade 60 rebar has a minimum yield strength of 60 ksi. Rebar is typically manufactured in grades 40, 60, and 75.

Common specification are: [2]

  • ASTM A615 Deformed and Plain Billet-Steel bars for concrete reinforcement
  • ASTM A616 Rail-Steel Deformed and Plain bars for concrete reinforcement
  • ASTM A617 Axle-Steel Deformed and Plain bars for concrete reinforcement
  • ASTM A706 Low-Alloy Steel Deformed and Plain bars for concrete reinforcement

Historically in Europe, rebar comprised mild steel material with a yield strength of approximately 250 N/mm². Modern rebar comprises high-yield steel, with a yield strength more typically 500 N/mm². Rebar can be supplied with various grades of ductility, with the more ductile steel capable of absorbing considerably greater energy when deformed - this can be of use in design against earthquakes for example.

[edit] Placing rebar

Rebar is fabricated either on or off the project site commonly with a hydraulic bender and shears. The fabricated rebar is placed by rodbusters or concrete reinforcing ironworkers with bar supports separating the rebar from the concrete forms to establish concrete cover and ensure that proper embedment is achieved.

[edit] Welding

Most grades of steel used in rebar are suitable for welding, which can be used to bind several pieces of rebar together. However, welding can reduce the fatigue life of the rebar, and as a result rebar cages are normally tied together with wire. Grade ASTM A706 is suitable for welding without damaging the properties of the steel. Besides fatigue concerns welding rebar has become less common in developed countries due to the high labor costs of certified welders. Steel for prestressed concrete may absolutely not be welded.

[edit] Rebar couplers

When welding or wire-tying rebar is impractical or uneconomical a mechanical connection or rebar coupler can be used to connect two or more bars together. These couplers are popular in precast concrete construction at the joints between members and to reduce rebar congestion in highly reinforced areas.

A full mechanical connection is achieved when the bars connected develop in tension or compression a minimum of 125% of the yield strength of the bar. [3]

[edit] Safety

To prevent workers and / or pedestrians from accidentally impaling themselves, the protruding ends of steel rebar are often bent over or covered with special steel-reinforced plastic "plate" caps. "Mushroom" caps may provide protection from scratches and other minor injuries, but provide little to no protection from impalement.

[edit] Rebar designation

For clarity, reinforcement is usually tabulated in a Reinforcement Schedule on construction drawings. This eliminates ambiguity in the various notations used in different parts of the world. The following list provides examples of the different notations used in the architectural, engineering, and construction industry.

[edit] New Zealand

Designation Explanation
HD-16-300, T&B, EW High strength (500MPa) 16mm diameter rebars spaced at 300mm centers (center-to-center distance) on both the top and bottom face and in each way as well, i.e. longitudinal and transverse.
3-D12 Three mild strength (300MPa) 12mm diameter rebars
R8 Stirrups @ 225 MAX "D" grade (300MPa) smooth bar stirrups, spaced at 225mm centres. By default in New Zealand practice all stirrups are normally interpreted as being full, closed, loops. This is a detailing requirement for concrete ductility in seismic zones; If a single strand of stirrup with a hook at each end was required this would typically be both specified and illustrated.

[edit] United States

Designation Explanation
#4 @ 12 OC, T&B, EW Number 4 rebars spaced 12 inches on center (center-to-center distance) on both the top and bottom faces and in each way as well, i.e. longitudinal and transverse.
(3) #4 Three number 4 rebars (usually used when the rebar perpendicular to the detail)
#3 ties @ 9 OC, (2) per set Number 3 rebars used as stirrups, spaced at 9 inches on centre. Each set consists of two ties, which is usually illustrated.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ GFRP Bar Transverse Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Effects on Concrete Cover
  2. ^ CRSI: 'Placing Reinforcing Bars', PRB-2-99, 1997.
  3. ^ CRSI: 'Manual of Standard Practice', 8-2, 1998.

[edit] External links

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