What is rebar used for?
- Providing strength to concrete
- Enabling thinner use of concrete
- Preventing cracking
- Offering longevity
- Allowing cost-efficient solutions
Every structure needs to manifest structural integrity in order for it to last for long periods of time. Structures that have been constructed with shoddy materials can not only be subjected to frequent damages and corrosion, but may also cause potential harm to its inhabitants.
It is for this reason that industrial and construction sectors across the world have turned to using manufactured steel products in order to provide an added layer of protection and durability. They have taken advantage of the uses of rebar, or reinforcing steel bars in order to provide structure to concrete and masonry-type buildings.
If you’re thinking about incorporating rebars into your construction undertakings, it would be in your best interest to equip yourself with knowledge on the properties which make it useful for many endeavors.
Providing strength to concrete
While poured concrete in itself is a stable material, it needs to have an increased level of stability through the usage of other materials. The purpose of this is to produce a concrete structuring, like a pillar, or a wall, which is stable enough to withstand high levels of compression.
With the incorporation of rebar, every part of a concrete pillar would be fully stabilized due to the added support. Compounded with the already-desirable properties of steel, a steel rebar can provide an additional level of protection due to the increased tensile strength.
Tensile strength simply refers to the measure of how much steel can undergo stress or compression before cracks begin to manifest, or before it is subject to breakage. Having this in mind, the strength of the poured concrete and the rebar work together to achieve this outcome.
Enabling thinner use of concrete
It is completely normal for larger structures to make use of larger amounts of concrete, especially if this is the most predominant type of construction material in use. However, not all endeavors require the usage of such amounts.
Minor projects, for example, the like construction of driveways or garage floors may do away with the use of high volumes of concrete. These types of projects can instead seek an alternative material which still provides the same level of support and strength to the project.
The addition of reinforcing bars can help one reduce the use of poured concrete. Not only is this considered a practical choice, but it is also an aesthetically-based decision. Your driveway would look less bulky and more stable with the use of rebars.
Preventing cracking
As mentioned before, reinforced bars are added to concrete pillars – to name an example – in order to improve the overall structural integrity. After sometime, it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine that these pillars would be subject to different kinds of exposure to weather-related elements such as rain, or drastic temperature changes.
The rebar increases the ability of the poured concrete to withstand these elements and other such drastic changes. Structurally-buildings are significantly important in any location, in order for them to retain their shape and form, as well as, to avoid potential safety risks and hazards.
If low-quality construction materials are used, there would be a tendency for cracks and other types of potentially major damages to take place. Compound this with the absence of rebars, then the building is just basically a disaster waiting to take place.
Offering longevity
It can already go without saying that rebars generally offer any type of structure with more longevity. Apart from the already-attractive qualities of this type of material, chemical processes are undergone to create alterations within the steel’s chemical structuring.
For example, a type of heat treatment method called annealing is applied on materials, like steel in order to increase its ductility and tensile strength. As such, when this type of raw construction material is integrated into a concrete structure, the structure can support heavy loads and other kinds of weights that may bear down on it.
The support offers the entire building with more longevity, making it more useful, without the requirement of any drastic maintenance practices or damage repairs.
Allowing cost-efficient solutions
All the properties of a steel rebar can lead to positive trickle-down effects in any type of constructional or industrial endeavor.
For example, a cold-storage warehouse which makes use of concrete pillars imbued with steel rebars wouldn’t have to conduct consistent repairs or checks despite being constantly exposed to low temperatures. This allows them to save money and prevent instances of budget blowouts because of something which can be preventatively addressed.
As mentioned before, rebars also lead to an overall decrease in the use of certain types of costly construction materials. Using rebars is a practical choice and can help you save up on more money for other uses.
Key Takeaway
Though a seemingly-humble material, the steel rebar is highly impactful in the way by which several structures are able to retain their form for longer time periods. The qualities of this kind of steel cannot be undermined, as exemplified by how frequently it has been utilized in many processes.
The guide above has hopefully equipped you with sufficient information on the uses of rebar, for your future considerations and endeavors.
