Concrete Reinforcement
(21 Products)Concrete reinforcement entails the insertion of steel bars or welded wire fabrics into newly laid concrete during the casting process. The incorporation of such reinforcements offers a degree of higher strength to areas that demand it most. Our steel reinforcement range includes reinforcing bars, coils and mesh, suitable for cast concrete application in industrial, agricultural and transportation sectors.
What Is Concrete Reinforcement?
Concrete reinforcement is a critical technique used in the construction industry to enhance the strength, durability, and performance of concrete structures. Concrete is strong in compression but relatively weak in tension, which makes it prone to cracking under tensile stresses.
Steel reinforcement, which can take the form of bars, wires, or mesh, is typically embedded in concrete before it sets. This reinforcement plays a crucial role in handling tensile and other loads that concrete alone cannot manage effectively, thereby enhancing the structure’s overall strength and stability.
Steel is one of the most widely used materials in concrete reinforcement because of its high tensile strength, which allows it to effectively withstand the forces applied to the concrete.
Widely employed in diverse construction projects, including bridges, buildings, and roads, steel concrete reinforcement is essential for ensuring both the structural integrity and longevity of these constructions.
Reinforcement Bars
Reinforcement steel bars otherwise referred to as 'steel rebar', are high-tensile steel rods used to bolster and reinforce concrete and masonry structures, particularly concrete slabs. The reinforcement process of concrete slabs sees rebars applied across the length and width of the slab at regular intervals.
While concrete exhibits high compressive strength, it can be prone to weakness under tension and is overall, quite a brittle material. By incorporating a reinforcing bar during the concrete pouring process, the tensile strength of the overall building project will be significantly enhanced.
Reinforcement Coils
EML (Expanded Metal Lathe) reinforcement coil strengthens brick and blockwork by increasing tensile strength and preventing cracking. When used as a plaster key on ceilings and walls, it ensures a durable bond. Typically, it is embedded in mortar joints (approximately every third course) to reinforce walls.
Reinforcement Steel Mesh
Steel reinforcement mesh is the ideal material for construction projects where flexibility needs to be tightly regulated. It is widely utilised as reinforcing fabric in concrete slabs, where its placement significantly enhances load-bearing capacity and overall structural integrity. As the concrete cures, it bonds with the mesh, forming a composite material that effectively combines the compressive strength of concrete with the tensile resilience of steel.
Frequently Asked Steel Reinforcement Questions
What Are The 3 Main Types of Stresses In Construction?
While concrete is durable for the most part and will withstand compression force, it is also prone to cracking from load bending tensile force. For this reason, implementing reinforcement measures when laying concrete is imperative in high-stress environments.
Let's take a look at a few key stresses in construction:
- Tensile (pulling apart)
- Compressive (pushing together)
- Shear (sliding stress of a parallel cross-section material)
What Is Concrete Cover?
The concrete cover, as specified by code ACI 130, is the distance between the embedded reinforcement or rebar and the exterior of the concrete surface. Concrete cover plays a vital role in increasing the durability of reinforced structures.
Why Is Steel The Most Common Reinforcement Material?
Steel reinforcement has played a crucial role in concrete construction for over a century, shaping the appearance of our cities and cosmopolitan landscape. Despite the rapid advancement of reinforcement technology, steel will most likely remain a staple in concrete construction.
One key reason for this is that concrete and steel have similar thermal expansion coefficients, meaning they expand and contract at nearly the same rate with temperature changes. This compatibility helps maintain the structural integrity of buildings and other structures.
Additionally, steel’s high tensile strength makes it an ideal choice for reinforcing concrete, as it effectively supports and strengthens structures under various loads and stresses.
Here at Materials Market, all of our metal framework is supplied from our vast network of reliable suppliers across the UK. All products are manufactured from the highest quality steel so that you can have ultimate confidence in your finished project.
Which Applications Require Concrete Reinforcement?
To put it simply, any structural concrete application that demands a high degree of load-bearing should be reinforced. Let's outline a few examples below:
- Footings
- Foundations
- Slabs
- Columns
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