Reinforcing
steel is used in the construction of bridges, buildings, skyscrapers,
residential homes, warehouses, foundations and roads to increase the strength
of the concrete in addition to providing the support to hold the structure
up. It offers many economic advantages, and
the high-tech process used to create the steel bars of today has been totally
transformed from the reinforced concrete building that was done in the late
1800’s.
As
reinforced concrete is typically a locally sourced material as well as the fact
that the steel comes from recycled scrap, makes it both a sustainable and
environmentally friendly product. In
addition once a structure is no longer viable, the reinforcing steel and
concrete are separated and both materials are recycled to be used again.
The
reinforcing steel bars known as rebar are installed inside the concrete, and
work to help the concrete maintain its shape. It is both an economical way to increase the
strength of the concrete and provides the opportunity to build structures that
could not have been done without it.
The
Concrete Steel Reinforcing Institute (CSRI) explains that, “Steel Reinforcing
bars are produced by pouring molten steel into casters and then running it through
a series of stands in the mill, which shape the steel into reinforcing bars.
The cross hatchings, called "deformations," help secure the steel and
transfer the load between it and the concrete.”
Reinforced
concrete offers the durability and strength of the concrete and the reinforcing
bar working together. The CSRI adds
that, “The concrete provides the material's compressive strength, while the
steel — in the form of embedded reinforcing bars — provides tensile strength.”
Sources: crsi.org/index.cfm/steel/about
Conco
is one of the leading commercial concrete contractors in the Western United
States. We have four regional offices
serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado and are
experts at creating cost-effective solutions that take advantage of the most
up-to-date techniques. Our concrete services include commercial, educational,
parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.
