If you’re not completely familiar with the construction industry, rebar may seem like an unusual concept. Most would generally assume that steel reinforcing bars are like the commonly used set of bars that are placed to set and shape a construction along with concrete.

However, the concept of rebar is much more than that. Not only are they more rounded than other steel bars, but they are made from carbon steel and formed with ridges that help anchor the concrete in the event of tensile forces. Freestanding concrete, while strong enough to withstand compressive forces, has the potential to crack from tension forces and that’s where reinforcing steel bars come into the picture.

These deformations or ridges in the bars help to shift the load between the steel bars and the concrete. Where concrete, by itself, provides compressive strength to the building material, these bars provide the required tensile strength that prevents the material from crumbling under pressure.

Although the use of rebar in the construction industry dates back to 1968, plain rebar is still preferred in situations where the steel may slip. These reinforcing bars are created by hot rolling different types of steel materials. Most of these bars are made from new steel billets, but some also use scrap steel and even railroad tracks for rolling.

Rebar can be segmented into a variety of categories ranging from carbon steel bars and welded wire cloth to stainless steel rebar and galvanized rebar. Commonly known as reinforcing steel bar, these bars are available in a variety of grades with numerous specifications. According to the specifications, they are used depending on their resistance, composition and percentage of elongation.

Measured in fractions ranging in thickness from 1/8 inch, sizes can range from #3 bar to #18 bar. The designated grade for the bar is the same as its minimum yield strength. For example, a steel bar designated grade 40 will have a minimum yield strength of 40 kilopounds per square inch. The most commonly used grade for concrete construction is 60. For concrete constructions that have relatively low stress, such as sidewalks, the use of grade 40 steel bars is preferred, while for heavy-duty constructions such as plants and bridges , grade 75 steel bar is used.

However, for any construction, it is essential to correctly determine the capacity of the equipment, since the measurement of the bar varies according to the type of construction. Although it provides the required strength to the concrete, one must focus primarily on the base slab; unless the slab is properly placed to support the concrete, it will not serve its purpose.