Rebar Reinforcement in Concrete

When using concrete as a construction material in buildings, it is often accompanied by steel reinforcement. The most common type of reinforcement is typically rebar. Rebar is a steel round bar of different diameter sizes, has ridges to adhere to, and ultimately, gets embedded inside wet concrete.

Why use rebar inside your concrete structure?  Concrete by itself is very strong in compression but very weak in tension. In other words, you can push down on concrete materials and it can easily handle the load. Alternatively, if you try to pull the concrete apart, it is much easier to break.

In a very simplified comparison, think about building a sandcastle at the beach. You can fill a bucket of sand to the brim and easily push down on it without it caving in. As soon as you grab the sand and pull it out of the bucket, it will easily break apart at your fingers. Sure, concrete has a little more chemical bonding to it, but it’s a similar concept.

To increase the tensile strength of a concrete member, rebar is strategically placed into areas where tension forces are high. This ultimately reduces the amount of cracking, which can often be a significant sign of concrete failure.

If you are planning to use concrete in your next construction project, whether it be beams, columns, planks, or foundations, give us a call and we can help you locate the most economical rebar layout design!