2.
6 Reinforcement
Concrete can withstand compression without any problem. But concrete become
valueless when it is subjected in to tension. Any concrete, which is subjected in to flexure,
will have both tension and compression. Steel can withstand tension. Therefore steel bars
can be used to strengthen the concrete.
After concrete gain its strength concrete and steel bars will act homogeneously. In
construction industry according to the type of work and design tor steel and mild steel is
used.
When placing all reinforcement, it should be free from dirt, mud and oil. Steel bars
should be stored clear from the ground to prevent corrosion.
Steel and concrete can be used in combination because:
Upon hardening, concrete bonds firmly to the steel.
Concrete and steel expand and contract at the same rate under temperature changes.
Concrete has a high resistance to damage by fire and thus protects the steel, which is
easily damaged by fire.
The following are the principal type of stress, which develop in structural members:
(1) Compression
Compressive stresses tend to cause concrete to crush.
(2) Tension
Tensile stresses tend to cause concrete to stretch and crack
(3) Shear
Shear stresses tend to cause sliding between adjacent sections of concrete.
The reinforcement details are mentioned in the reinforcement drawing. Using Drawings
following points have to be checked.
1.
Spacing
2.
No of strips
3.
Lap length
4.
Starter bars for columns
5.
Cover blocks
If there are any construction joints, they should be chipped to bond properly.
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2.6.1 Indication Of Reinforcement In Drawing
A Reinforcement bar is marked in drawings, in order to understand all the
detail of the reinforcement as follows.
Abbreviations used
B1
- Bottom reinforcement
B2
- Distribution bars in bottom net
T1
- Top reinforcement
T2
- Distribution bars in top net
C/C
- Center to center
ALT -Alternatively
T or Y denotes steel, which has a ribbed appearance and may be twisted. This is used
to be known as high tensile steel, which is called as tor steel or yield steel.
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2.6.2 Cover blocks
Cover is the distance between outside face of the concrete to the nearest surface of
reinforcing steel. They are made up by 1:2 cement mortar.
By providing adequate cover
Will protect steel from corrosion
Will protect steel from fire
Will protect steel from surface treatments (chipping)
Cover size should be decided according to the exposure conditions of the concrete. If
required fire can be taken to consideration.
If we dont provide adequate cover steel bar will get corroded and will reduce there
cross sectional area. So after some time steel area will be less than the steel area what we
design. Therefore concrete strength will reduce remarkably. It might cause failure or
shortening lifetime of a structure.
Also when steel corrodes it tends to expand. This will cause cracks in concrete which
will open steel to whether conditions.
Before laying the reinforcement in the site, bar schedule is prepared according to
BS4466. Then these schedules are given to steel yard (off site) to cut and arrange the bars.
I.e. one-beam bars are bounded together and named and then send to site. Obviously we
have to provide the accurate length of reinforcement for our requirement without any
wastage. Therefore following things should be considered.
In market only 12m bars are available. Therefore lapping of reinforcement is
necessary.
While lapping the reinforcement we have to provide minimum lap length. There
fore one bar should be cranked.
In construction joints minimum lap length should be provided.
Especially in beam junctions, primary beam top bars should be above the secondary
beam top bars and primary beam bottom bars should be below the secondary beam
bottom bars. Therefore secondary beam top bars are cranked.
While bending the bars, bar length are changing. Further, while bending as hook or L
shape, safer radius are mentioned in BS4466. Therefore bar schedule ensures the safety and
accuracy.
Structural Concerns
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Reinforcement lap should be avoided in tension zone when nominal tension lap
length is provided. But in the case of our site situation, we dont want to worry about
this. Because design engineer asked to provided 57 times of diameter for grade 25
concrete and 52 times of diameter of bar for grade 30 concrete which is more than
required. Anyhow contractors pay some commitment to build a quality structure.
Contractors consider about lap length area when they prepared the bar schedules.
Continuous Beam Lap Arrangement
Top beam reinforcement
Bottom beam reinforcement
One-third span
When more reinforcement comes in one phase contractor provide lap length in
stagger passion. This situation is critical near to the construction joint.
2.6.3 Bar bending work
For bar bending purpose a manual method was used in this method several rigid
iron nails, which were fixed on the wooden bloke, were used.
Then the reinforcement bars were place between iron nails very tightly and one
of its edges was bended by inserting to hollow cylindrical G.I bar the
reinforcement bar were cut by the cutter all bars were straighten, before
using.
But bars for columns were bent at the end in order to grip the structure firmly.
How ever by bending the bar, its strength is reduced.
In bending of bars some amount of length is extended which depend on the
diameter of the bar normally allowances for stirrup 12D, for beam 6D.
Important facts that should taken into consideration when bar bending: Bar must be bent accurately to the dimensions shown on the bending schedule.
Otherwise, the cover may not be obtained when the steel is positioned in the structure fixed.
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Bars should be bent cold with a slow and regular movement.
Never heat cold worked bars.
Do not heat other bars without an engineers approval.
If bars have to be heated, do not exceed a cherry red colour.
Never cool heated bars by quenching in water.
If steel has been bent and then straightened, it should not be bent again at the same point or
near the same point.
Cutting Of Bars
First of all the reinforcement bars were cut according to required length. For this
purpose bar cutter was used.
Lap Length
When jointing of two reinforcement bars of columns slabs or beams additional amount of
length had to be provided preventing slipping two bars. These lengths called lap length.
Lap length was varying as fallows according to element. Nearly it was 45*small diameter
Normal length of the full bar is 12 m. if the reinforcement bar is exceeding 12 m then lap
should be provided. It is carried out according to the standard specification. The designed
lap length in our site is 45 *, where is bar diameter.
Example: (1.)
Lapping
T20
T20
Lapping length = 45 *
Lapping
(2.)
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T20
T25
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Lapping length =45 *
= 45* 20 (small bar diameter)
= 900 mm
Crank of bar
Y: X =1:10
When reinforcement work is finished there will be electric conduits should be
placed. For this with the electrical drawing the electrical conduits were place between
the reinforcement.
2.6.4
Placing Of Reinforcement
Normally beam reinforcement lay initially and after they go for slab
reinforcement.
ANNEX Photo P 07
Spacing in between top and bottom reinforcement is very important issue because;
effective depth will change because of the variation of distance between top and bottom
reinforcing bars. Spacer bar used for beam reinforcement. Spacer bar size was 25mm
with 1000mm spacing in horizontally. Stools provide vertical spacing in between
bottom and top slab mesh reinforcement. Stools must be providing in adequate spacing.
But the contractor has to bear the cost of tools. Because this cost doesnt included in
BOQ.
Required height
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Required
height
See:
ANNEX Photo P 08
Cover size is depends on exposure condition and fire resistance. Usually in our site slab
cover is 20mm and for beam and column cover size was 25mm.
Tor Steel Weight
In our site 1m tor steel weight is calculated approximately by the equation, which is
given below.
Weight = diameter^2 / 162.162
Here: Diameter is in mm
Weight is in kg/m
Bar type
T10
Weight (kg/m)
0.616
T12
0.888
T16
1.579
T20
2.466
T25
3.854
T32
6.313
T40
9.864
Important Checks When Reinforcement work
Check whether spaces of each reinforcement bar were in correct or not.(vertically&
horizontally)
Check weather availability of spacer bars of beams in required spacing.
Binding should be tightened properly.
Covering should be maintained.
In the case of double net, (such as in the case of a base) stools are used between the two nets
to get required space between them.
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Under the bottom net cover blocks were used in required density to maintain the bottom
cover.
Laps cannot be placed continuously.
See also
ANNEX Photo P 04
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