Installing concrete surfacing, performing rough finishing works (plastering walls and a ceiling surface), strengthening the masonry, it is necessary to use a binder material, which is a reinforcing metal mesh. In other words, it is necessary to use rebar (other names: reinforcing bar, reinforcing steel, steel reinforcing bar, reinforcement steel). Rebar means a steel bar or mesh of steel wires, which are used as a tension device in reinforced concrete.
Characteristics of rebars
To be able to make well-informed decisions about the quality of steel rebars in a holistic manner, it is imperative that we are conversant with the steel characteristics that have a bearing on the mechanical properties of the rebars.
The characteristics which determine the criteria of a good rebar are:
- Good strength for economic design of the structure.
- Good gripping with concrete i.e. good bonding.
- Thermal expansion characteristics compatible with concrete.
- Good ductility to withstand cyclic loading (for example earthquake loading) or impact.
- Good bendability which is essential for giving requisite shape to rebars to suit the demand of the structures.
- Good weldability for the ease of good reinforcement cage binding and saving of lap length.
- Good resistance against corrosion for higher durability of the structure.