What is reinforcing steel?

What is reinforcing steel?

Reinforcing Steel has been used as an essential construction material for over 8,500 years. Records of its use date back to Roman times – the Roman Colosseum is a prime example of the material’s strength and durability.

Usually in the form of a reinforcing bar or reinforcing mesh (made up of multiple bars in a grid pattern), concrete is then poured over the steel to create one unit.

Concrete is incredibly strong but it has poor tensile strength. If pressure is applied in a push or pull force, the concrete can become brittle and crack and the structure will eventually fail.

Adding steel to a concrete pour reinforces the final structure. The reinforcing bars or mesh take the pressure from any pushing or pulling forces and together make a strong and durable building material.

Reinforcing bars are typically manufactured with carbon steel. As a part of the manufacturing process, they are moulded with a ribbed or ridged texture. This allows the concrete to attach and adhere easily around it, creating a stronger bond. These bars can range in diameter from 10mm to 50mm and are usually bent to shape or cut to size during the manufacturing process.

The manufacturing process is flexible in creating unique shapes and structures for more variety in construction and architecture, and, as it is fully recyclable, it is a highly sustainable material.

What types of construction use reinforcing steel?

Reinforcing steel is used in all types of construction around the world:

Reinforcing steel is commonly found in the construction of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings to reinforce concrete foundations, columns, slabs and beams.

Bridges utilise steel reinforcement to provide strength and durability. This allows them to withstand heavy traffic loads and environmental stressors like wind or water corrosion.

Reinforcing steel is commonly used in retaining walls, culverts and concrete pavements in road and highway construction where stability and longevity is crucial.

Dams, reservoirs and other water-retaining structures rely on steel reinforcement to securely hold water, with reduced corrosion damage over time.

Reinforcing steel is used in tunnels, underground transport systems and underground parking garages to provide structural strength and stability.

Seismic Retrofitting uses reinforcing steel in areas that are prone to earthquakes, commonly added to existing structures to improve their resistance and longevity to seismic activity and overall safety.