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bar

Sizes and grades 

U.S. sizes 

Imperial bar designations represent the bar diameter in fractions of 18 inch, such that #8 = 88 inch = 1 inch diameter. Area = (bar size/9)2 such that area of #8 = (8/9)2 = 0.79 in2. This applies to #8 bars and smaller. Larger bars have a slightly larger diameter than the one computed using the 18 inch convention. 

Imperial  

Bar Size 

"Soft"  

Metric Size 

Weight  

(lbft

Weight  

(kg/m) 

Nominal Diameter  

(in) 

Nominal Diameter  

(mm) 

Nominal Area  

(in²) 

Nominal Area  

(mm²) 

#3 

#10 

0.376 

0.561 

0.375 = 38 

9.525 

0.11 

71 

#4 

#13 

0.668 

0.996 

0.500 = 48 

12.7 

0.20 

129 

#5 

#16 

1.043 

1.556 

0.625 = 58 

15.875 

0.31 

200 

#6 

#19 

1.502 

2.24 

0.750 = 68 

19.05 

0.44 

284 

#7 

#22 

2.044 

3.049 

0.875 = 78 

22.225 

0.60 

387 

#8 

#25 

2.670 

3.982 

1.000 = 88 

25.4 

0.79 

509 

#9 

#29 

3.400 

5.071 

1.128 

28.65 

1.00 

645 

#10 

#32 

4.303 

6.418 

1.270 

32.26 

1.27 

819 

#11 

#36 

5.313 

7.924 

1.410 

35.81 

1.56 

1006 

#14 

#43 

7.650 

11.41 

1.693 

43 

2.25 

1452 

#18 

#57 

13.60 

20.284 

2.257 

57.33 

4.00 

2581 

 

Canadian sizes 

Metric bar designations represent the nominal bar diameter in millimeters, rounded to the nearest 5 mm. 

Metric  

Bar Size 

Mass  

(kg/m) 

Nominal Diameter  

(mm) 

Cross-Sectional  

Area (mm²) 

10M 

0.785 

11.3 

100 

15M 

1.570 

16.0 

200 

20M 

2.355 

19.5 

300 

25M 

3.925 

25.2 

500 

30M 

5.495 

29.9 

700 

35M 

7.850 

35.7 

1000 

45M 

11.775 

43.7 

1500 

55M 

19.625 

56.4 

2500 

 

European sizes 

Metric bar designations represent the nominal bar diameter in millimetres. Bars in Europe will be specified to comply with the standard EN 10080 (awaiting introduction as of early 2007), although various national standards still remain in force (e.g. BS 4449 in the United Kingdom). 

Metric  

Bar Size 

Mass  

(kg/m) 

Nominal Diameter  

(mm) 

Cross-Sectional  

Area (mm²) 

6,0 

0.222 

28.3 

8,0 

0.395 

50.3 

10,0 

0.617 

10 

78.5 

12,0 

0.888 

12 

113 

14,0 

1.21 

14 

154 

16,0 

1.579 

16 

201 

20,0 

2.467 

20 

314 

25,0 

3.855 

25 

491 

28,0 

4.83 

28 

616 

32,0 

6.316 

32 

804 

40,0 

9.868 

40 

1257 

50,0 

15.413 

50 

1963 

 

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Grades 

Rebar is available in different grades and specifications that vary in yield strength , ultimate tensile strength , chemical composition , and percentage of elongation

The grade designation is equal to the minimum yield strength of the bar in ksi (1000 psi) for example grade 60 rebar has a minimum yield strength of 60 ksi. Rebar is typically manufactured in grades 40, 60, and 75. 

Common ASTM specification are:  

  • ASTM A82: Specification for Plain Steel Wire for Concrete Reinforcement 
  • ASTM A184/A184M: Specification for Fabricated Deformed Steel Bar Mats for Concrete Reinforcement 
  • ASTM A185: Specification for Welded Plain Steel Wire Fabric for Concrete Reinforcement 
  • ASTM A496: Specification for Deformed Steel Wire for Concrete Reinforcement 
  • ASTM A497: Specification for Welded Deformed Steel Wire Fabric for Concrete Reinforcement 
  • ASTM A615/A615M: Deformed and plain carbon-steel bars for concrete reinforcement 
  • ASTM A616/A616M: Specification for Rail-Steel Deformed and Plain Bars for Concrete Reinforcement 
  • ASTM A617/A617M: Specification for Axle-Steel Deformed and Plain Bars for Concrete Reinforcement 
  • ASTM A706/A706M: Low-alloy steel deformed and plain bars for concrete reinforcement 
  • ASTM A767/A767M: Specification for Zinc-Coated(Galvanized) Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement 
  • ASTM A775/A775M: Specification for Epoxy-Coated Reinforcing Steel Bars 
  • ASTM A934/A934M: Specification for Epoxy-Coated Prefabricated Steel Reinforcing Bars 
  • ASTM A955: Deformed and plain stainless-steel bars for concrete reinforcement 
  • ASTM A996: Rail-steel and axle-steel deformed bars for concrete reinforcement 

ASTM marking designations are: 

  • 'S' billet A615 
  • 'I' rail A616 
  • 'IR' Rail Meeting Supplementary Requirements S1 A616 
  • 'A' Axle A617 
  • 'W' Low-alloy — A706 

Historically in Europe, rebar is composed of mild steel material with a yield strength of approximately 250 N/mm². Modern rebar is composed of high-yield steel, with a yield strength more typically 500 N/mm². Rebar can be supplied with various grades of ductility , with the more ductile steel capable of absorbing considerably greater energy when deformed - this can be of use in design to resist the forces from earthquakes for example. 

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Placing rebar  

Rebar cages are fabricated either on or off the project site commonly with the help of hydraulic benders and shears, however for small or custom work a tool known as a Hickey - or hand rebar bender, is sufficient. The rebars are placed by rodbusters or concrete reinforcing ironworkers with bar supports separating the rebar from the concrete forms to establish concrete cover and ensure that proper embedment is achieved. The rebars in the cages are connected by welding or tying wires. For epoxy coated or galvanized rebars only the latter is possible. 

Welding 

The American Welding Society (AWS) D 1.4 sets out the practices for welding rebar in the U.S. Without special consideration the only rebar that is ready to weld is W grade (Low-alloy — A706). In the US, most rebar is not suitable for welding. ASTM A 616 & ASTM A 617 reinforcing are re-rolled rail steel & re-rolled rail axle steel with uncontrolled chemistry, phosphorus & carbon content. To weld rebar you must obtain a mill statement that the reinforcing is suitable for welding. 

Welding can reduce the fatigue life of the rebar, and as a result rebar cages are normally tied together with wire. Besides fatigue concerns welding rebar has become less common in developed countries due to the high labor costs of certified welders. Steel for prestressed concrete may absolutely not be welded. 

Couplers 

When welding or wire-tying rebar is impractical or uneconomical a mechanical connection or rebar coupler can be used to connect two or more bars together. These couplers are popular in precast concrete construction at the joints between members and to reduce rebar congestion in highly reinforced areas. 

A full mechanical connection is achieved when the bars connected develop in tension or compression a minimum of 125% of the yield strength of the bar.  

Safety 

To prevent workers and / or pedestrians from accidentally impaling themselves, the protruding ends of steel rebar are often bent over or covered with special steel-reinforced plastic "plate" caps. "Mushroom" caps may provide protection from scratches and other minor injuries, but provide little to no protection from impalement. 

Designations 

For clarity, reinforcement is usually tabulated in a "reinforcement schedule" on construction drawings. This eliminates ambiguity in the various notations used in different parts of the world. The following list provides examples of the different notations used in the architectural, engineering, and construction industry. 

New Zealand 

Designation 

Explanation 

HD-16-300, T&B, EW 

High strength (500 MPa) 16 mm diameter rebars spaced at 300 mm centers (center-to-center distance) on both the top and bottom face and in each way as well (i.e., longitudinal and transverse). 

3-D12 

Three mild strength (300 MPa) 12 mm diameter rebars 

R8 Stirrups @ 225 MAX 

D grade (300 MPa) smooth bar stirrups, spaced at 225 mm centres. By default in New Zealand practice all stirrups are normally interpreted as being full, closed, loops. This is a detailing requirement for concrete ductility in seismic zones; If a single strand of stirrup with a hook at each end was required, this would typically be both specified and illustrated. 

 

United States 

Designation 

Explanation 

#4 @ 12 OC, T&B, EW 

Number 4 rebars spaced 12 inches on center (center-to-center distance) on both the top and bottom faces and in each way as well, i.e. longitudinal and transverse. 

(3) #4 

Three number 4 rebars (usually used when the rebar perpendicular to the detail) 

#3 ties @ 9 OC, (2) per set 

Number 3 rebars used as stirrups, spaced at 9 inches on center. Each set consists of two ties, which is usually illustrated. 

 

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