Concrete has proven to be one of the vital building materials in the modern construction. Whether you are building a family house, bridge, dam or a high-rise building, you can hardly do without a concrete structure. And an essential part of any concrete structure is reinforcement in the form of reinforcing steel.
Reinforced concrete resists both pressure and tension
Although concrete is very strong in pressure, its ability to resist tensile forces is rather limited. This “weakness” of concrete is effectively solved by reinforcement in the form of reinforcing steel. As a matter of fact, the result of combination of steel and concrete is reinforced concrete – material that resists effectively both pressure and tensile forces.
Thanks to its strength and flexibility, reinforcing steel guarantees the stability and tensile strength of the concrete structure. This reinforcement has a form of a circular steel bar, inserted into the concrete to increase its load-bearing capacity and to strengthen the construction of the concrete structure. Reinforcing steel considered, the terms “armatura” [armouring] or “roxor” [rebar] can be found in Czech. Choosing the right type of steel for the successful implementation of any construction is crucial. Whether it is a simple reinforcement of the foundation of a family house or a complex bridge structure, reinforcing steel ensures the necessary strength, stability and longevity of the structure.
Basic types of reinforcing steel
Reinforcing steel may differ in structure, shape and method of application. The basic types include reinforcing steel in coils and reinforcing steel in bars.
Reinforcing steel in bars constitutes one of the most commonly used types of reinforcement. Bars may be smooth or ribbed. Ribbing enables better adhesion to the concrete. A straight bar of type R is used in bearers of family houses, for industrial structures, concrete fence foundations, bridge constructions, ceilings and a number of other structures. It is most often produced in diameters from 5 to 16 mm and in lengths from 1 m to 12 m.
Reinforcing steel may also take a form of long steel wires wound into coils. Reinforcing steel in coils is usually smaller in diameter than concrete steel in bars. It is therefore more flexible and easier to handle. Reinforced steel in coils is used in constructions where greater flexibility, formability and the need to handle reinforcement are required, such as various prefabricated elements, concrete panels, ceiling elements or thin slabs. Concrete steel in coils is also used to bind and connect other reinforcement during assembly. For instance, at FERT, this type of steel is produced in diameters ranging from 4.6 mm do 12 mm. The weight of reinforcing steel in coils is approximately from 1 to 2.5 tons.
Welded wire mesh: a quick way to reinforce a large area
Another group of reinforcing steel is welded wire mesh. These products are known in Czech as “kari mesh”. Each mesh consists of transverse and longitudinal steel members, solidly welded at regular intervals at all points of intersection, a method that ensures their strength and stability. The appearance of this material resembles mesh material, hence the term.
Thanks to its physical dimensions, welded wire mesh represents a quick and effective solution when large areas need to be reinforced. Welded wire mesh is used in foundations, floors, ceilings or structures of roads and bridges. Reinforcement made out of welded wire mesh generally has standard dimensions (e.g. 2x6 m), but it can be easily adapted to the needs of a specific project.
Lattice girders protects the structure
Lattice girders stand for a specific type of steel that has the same purpose as reinforcing steel – it is used to increase the strength of steel structures. Lattice girders are composed of multiple interconnected steel bars that form three-dimensional reinforcing elements, such as cylinders, cubes or frames. Thanks to its shape, lattice girders provide strength and stability to structures loaded in more directions at the same time. Accordingly, this type of steel is most often used in construction of reinforced concrete structures that are characterised with high strength and stability requirements, such as complex bridge structures, prefabricated concrete elements or industrial halls. Lattice girders effectively protect the structure from effects of pressure and tension simultaneously.
Reinforcing steel is a versatile hard worker
Reinforcing steel is responsible for the strength and stability of the vast majority of modern buildings. Reinforced concrete, which is the result of the combination of concrete and steel, is a material with exceptional mechanical properties – it resists loads and is stable in a long term. Moreover, thanks to the variability of different types of steel, reinforced concrete structures can be adapted to virtually any project, whether it is the construction of family houses, multi-storey buildings, bridges or industrial complexes.
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