What is Rebar?
Rebars are used to improve the tensile strength of the concrete. It is short for “reinforcement bar” and refers to the steel rods that are installed inside the concrete and brick to help them keep their shape. Concrete is strong under compression but it has weak tensile strength. Without rebar, the natural expansion and contraction of the concrete will cause weak areas to develop, which will ultimately collapse in the long run. Rebar significantly increases the tensile strength of the structure. The surface of rebar features a continuous series of ribs, lugs or indentations to promote a better bond with the concrete and reduce the risk of slippage.
Rebar concrete construction allowed “building up” instead of out. Buildings made of wood had definite limits on the number of stories. Stone construction often allowed additional height, but it was expensive. With reinforced concrete, however, buildings could soar to new heights, allowing land to be used more efficiently. In short, rebar helped give rise to the modern skyscraper.
How Rebar Is Made?
Rebar used to be made from new material. In the 1960s it began to be made from scrap contained 97% recycled material. The recycled materials come from old cars, appliances, hot water heaters, and etc. Rebar is manufactured almost usually of steel with outstanding tensile characteristics in comparison to concrete.
The recycled materials are melted using electric arc burners and then cooled into billets. After the billets are ready to be utilized in the production of rebar, they are heated to high temperatures and hot-rolled into bar. After rolling, straight rebar is cut to length and then sent to a cooling bed to be air-cooled. Coiled rebar is sent to a reforming tub, where it is spooled and cut to the desired weights and lengths.
Common examples of rebar include:
- High-rise buildings
- Parking ramps
- Concrete piers
- Bridges
- Foundations
- Thick roads and driveways
Why is Rebar important to our economy?
The construction industry represents the building blocks of a community. It creates, builds and maintains the business workplaces, infrastructure, homes, schools, hospitals, and so on, which provide the services that society relies on. The more innovative, productive and efficient the construction industry is, the greater the economic prosperity of a country.
Buildability is one of the most important factors affecting construction labor productivity. It is increasingly becoming a major requirement in building practice. By increasing the tensile strength of concrete, rebar helps it to resist cracking and compensates for concrete’s inherent weakness. Historically, concrete couldn’t span long distances because it would crack in the center where tensile stress is highest. But with rebar it can. This is how large concrete structures are built.
