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Reinforced Concrete
Overview
As a Steelworker, you must be able to cut, bend, place, and tie reinforcing steel in its
proper sequence and configurations. This chapter describes the purpose of reinforcing
steel in concrete construction, identifies the types and shapes of commonly used
reinforcing steel, and explains specific properties of rebar (reinforcing steel). This
chapter begins with a presentation of fundamental information about concrete to help
you understand rebar work fully.
Objectives
When you have completed this chapter, you will be able to do the following:
1. Describe the different materials, purposes, and types of reinforcing steel.
Prerequisites
None
NAVEDTRA 14250A
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This course map shows all of the chapters in Steelworker Basic. The suggested training
order begins at the bottom and proceeds up. Skill levels increase as you advance on
the course map.
Introduction to Reinforcing Steel
Introduction to Structural Steel
Pre-Engineered Structures:
Rigging
Wire rope
Fiber Line
E
L
W
O
R
B
A
S
I
C
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Try to answer the question again.
NAVEDTRA 14250A
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19-4
Because concrete is plastic when placed, forms are built to contain and form the
concrete until it has hardened. In short, forms and formwork are described as molds that
hold freshly placed concrete in the desired shape until it hardens. In some cases,
depending on the soil texture and stability, the soil banks of excavated areas act as the
formwork for footings and foundations.
All the ingredients of a mix are placed in a concrete mixer, and after a thorough mixing,
the concrete is transferred by numerous methods (as determined by the projects
conditions), such as bucket, wheelbarrow, chute, transit truck tailgate, pump, and so
forth, into the formwork in which the reinforcing steel has already been placed.
Under normal, moderate weather and temperature conditions, concrete reaches its
initial set in approximately 1 hour, and hardens to its final set (although not fully cured)
in approximately 6 to 12 hours. As the concrete is being placed, and before the initial
set, it must be vibrated in the formwork to ensure complete coverage of all reinforcing
bars, but not vibrated so much that the aggregate and cement separate to form rock
pockets.
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Finish operations, such as smooth troweled finishes, must be performed between initial
and final set. After the final set, concrete must be protected from shock, extreme
temperature changes, and premature drying until it cures to sufficient hardness.
Concrete will be self-supportive in a few days and will attain most of its potential
strength in 28 days of moist curing. For further information on concrete, refer to the
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the American Concrete
Institute (ACI)-318.
19-6
structure. But when it is used for tension members, such as beams, girders, foundation
walls, or floors, concrete must be reinforced to attain the necessary tension strength.
Steel is the best material for reinforcing concrete because the properties of expansion
for both steel and concrete are considered to be approximately the same, that is, under
normal conditions, they will expand and contract at an almost equal rate.
NOTE
At very high temperatures, steel expands more rapidly than concrete and the two
materials will separate.
19-7
Reinforcing steel can be used in the form of bars or rods that are either plain or
deformed or in the form of expanded metal, wire, wire fabric, or sheet metal. Each type
is useful for different purposes, and engineers design structures with those purposes in
mind.
Plain bars are round in cross section. They are used in concrete for special purposes,
such as dowels at expansion joints, where bars must slide in a metal or paper sleeve,
for contraction joints in roads and runways, and for column spirals. They are the least
used of the rod type of reinforcement because they offer only smooth, even surfaces for
bonding with concrete.
Deformed bars are like plain bars except that they have indentations, ridges, or both in
a regular pattern. Earlier versions of deformed rebar were available as square or with a
spiral twist, and workers may still encounter them during demolition or on remodeling
projects of older structures. Current rebar suppliers deform the bars at the mill with
patterns and markings unique to their mill and to the tensile strength of the material.
Figure 19-6 shows a few of the types of deformed bars available.
In the United States, deformed bars are used almost exclusively, while in Europe, both
deformed and plain bars are used.
There are 11 standard sizes of reinforcing bars (Figure 19-7). Bars No. 3 through No.
18, inclusive, are deformed bars. Bar numbers correspond to bar sizes to the nearest
1/8 in. (3. 175 mm) measured at the nominal diameter but not including any
deformations. At various sites overseas, rebar could be procured locally and could be
metric.
Note: At 13.6 pounds per foot, a #18 bar (#57 metric) of any functional length quickly
becomes too heavy for personnel handling and requires mechanical lifting equipment.
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NAVEDTRA 14250A
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Figure 19-7 Reinforcing steel sizes and their tensile strength markings.
NAVEDTRA 14250A
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The top letter or symbol identifies the producing mill and deformation pattern.
The next marking is the bar size.
The third marking symbol designates the manufacturing material usually either
"S" for carbon-steel (ASTM A615) or "W" for low-alloy steel (ASTM A706).
Finally, there will be a grade marking (4 or 5, for 420 or 520) or the addition of
one line (420) or two lines (520) that must be at least five deformations long.
The lower strength reinforcing bars show only three marks: an initial representing the
producing mill, bar size, and type of steel.
High strength reinforcing bars use either the continuous line system or the number
system to show grade marks. In the line system, one continuous line is rolled into the
60,000 psi bars, and two continuous lines are rolled into the 75,000 psi bars. The lines
must run at least five deformation spaces, as shown in Figure 19-6.
Reinforcing bars typically come in two primary grades: Grade 60 (minimum yield
strength of 60,000 psi) and Grade 75 (minimum yield strength of 75,000 psi). The metric
equivalents for these are Grade 420 (equivalent yield strength of 420 MPa
(megapascals) and Grade 520 (equivalent yield strength of 520 MPa).
1.3.2 Tension in Steel
Steel bars are strong in tension. Structural grade is capable of safely carrying up to
18,000 psi and intermediate, hard, and rail steel, 20,000 psi. This is the safe or working
stress; the breaking stress is about triple this.
When a mild steel bar is pulled in a testing machine, it stretches a very small amount
with each increment of load. In the lighter loadings, this stretch is directly proportional to
the amount of load (Figure 19-8, View A). The amount is too small to be visible and can
be measured only with sensitive gauges.
At a point during the pull (known as the Yield Point), such as 33,000 psi for mild steel,
the bar begins to neck down (Figure 19-8, View B) and continues to stretch perceptibly
with no additional load.
Then, when it seems the bar will snap like a rubber band, it recovers strength (due to
work hardening). Additional pull is required (Figure 19-8, View C) to produce additional
stretch and final failure (known as the ultimate strength) at about 55,000 psi for mild
steel.
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Common specifications are ASTM A 615 for carbon steel rebar, ASTM A 706 for
seismic rebar, ASTM A 955 for stainless steel rebar, and ASTM A 996 for rail steel
rebar and axle steel rebar. American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO) Specifications M31M / M 31-02, Deformed and Plain Billet-Steel
Bars for Concrete Reinforcement contain more information on reinforcing bar tension
testing.
19-12
as light diffusers, screens, grilles, and filters. Expanded metal is also manufactured in
heavy gauges for applications such as reinforcing concrete walkways, ramps, and
catwalks of all types.
1.4.2 Welded Wire Fabric
Welded wire fabric is fabricated from a series of wires arranged at right angles to each
other and electrically welded at all intersections. Welded wire fabric, referred to as WWF
within the NCF, has various uses in reinforced concrete construction. In building
construction, it is most often used for floor slabs on well compacted ground. Heavier
fabric, supplied mainly in flat sheets, is often used in walls and for the primary
reinforcement in structural floor slabs. Additional examples of its use include road and
runway pavements, box culverts, and small canal linings.
Welded wire fabric (WWF or wire mesh) is available in rolls of lighter gauge wire for light
building construction and in sheets of heavier gauge wire for highways and buildings
when roll gauge sizes will not give sufficient reinforcement (Figure 19-10). WWF is
available in square and rectangular patterns in a wide variety of wire gauges welded at
each intersection.
19-13
When WWF is used, specifications and designs usually indicate the minimum lap. As a
practical matter, although a minimum lap of 2 in. may be sufficient for nonstructural
concrete, for placement purposes a 1-square lap, regardless of the mesh spacing, is
common to facilitate the installers ability to tie the laps together at intersections.
The unit weight of WWF is designated in pounds per one hundred square feet of fabric
Five feet, six feet, seven feet, and seven feet six inches are the standard widths
available for rolls, while the standard panel widths and lengths are seven feet by twenty
feet and seven feet six inches by twenty feet.
Table 19-1 Common Stock Sizes of Welded Wire Fabric.
Style Designation
Current Designation
(by W-Number)
Previous Designation
(by Steel Wire Gauge)
Weight Approximate
Pounds per 100 Square Feet
Panels/Sheets
6 x 6 W 1.4 x W 1.4
6 x 6 10 x 10
21
6 X 6 W 2.1 X W 2.1
6X68X8
29
6 X 6 W 2.9 X W 2.9
6x66x6
42
6 x 6 W 4.0 x W 4.0
6x64x4
58
4 x 4 W 1.4 x W 1.4
4 x 4 10 x 10
31
4 x 4 W 2.1 x W 2.1
4x48x8
43
4 x 4 W 2.9 x W 2.9
4x46x6
62
4 x 4 W 4.0 x W 4.0
4x44x4
86
Rolls
6 x 6 W 1.4 x W 1.4
6 x 6 10 x 10
21
6 x 6 W 2.9 x W 2.9
6x66x6
42
6 x 6 W 4.0 x W 4.0
6x64x4
58
6 x 6 W 5.5 x W 5.5
6x62x2
80
4 x 4 W 4.0 x W 4.0
4x44x4
86
Summary
This chapter discussed the fundamental information about reinforced concrete and the
reasons why it is necessary to use reinforcement steel with concrete. Also discussed
were the different materials, purposes, and types of reinforcing steel. Specifically
discussed was the identification system used on the most common reinforcement bar
used by the Seabees. The mechanical properties of the steel and ASTM specifications
of the steel reinforcement bars were also discussed.
Always remember to follow the prescribed safety precautions and wear the proper
personal protective equipment.
NAVEDTRA 14250A
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2.
3.
C.
D.
What does the first letter or symbol identify on a reinforcement bar brand?
A.
B.
C.
D.
7.
6.
What type of surface condition on rebar provides the best adherence with
concrete?
A.
B.
C.
D.
5.
True
False
Which factor makes steel the best material for reinforcing concrete?
A.
B.
4.
Dryness
Water-to-cement ratio
Age
Type of steel reinforcement
Producing mill
Bar size
Manufacturing material
Grade mark
220
320
420
520
NAVEDTRA 14250A
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8.
At what pounds per square inch will a steel bar begin to neck down?
A.
B.
C.
D.
9.
10.
22,000
33,000
66,000
77,000
What is the common spacing, in square laps, on wire mesh fabric that facilitates
the installers ability to tie laps together?
A.
B.
C.
D.
1
2
3
4
NAVEDTRA 14250A
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NAVEDTRA 14250A
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NAVEDTRA 14250A
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805/982-5508
E-mail:
CSFE_NRTC@navy.mil
NAVEDTRA 14250A
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