Reinforcing Steels

Concrete, the traditional material used for building, possesses high compressive strength but only low tensile strength. This means that a fracture in the structure is highly likely after applying only a relatively low load if a structure made purely of concrete is loaded for bend. Steel rods are inserted in the concrete to increase the tensile strength of this construction material producing a composite structure which utilises both the excellent compressive strength of the concrete and the high tensile strength of the steel. The various types of reinforcing steels differ from each other either due to their external form (varying surface shape) or processed form (e.g. as welded wire meshes) or both. The reinforcing steels, also known as armouring, are subdivided into the following types: Rods of 1. hot-rolled round steel 2. hot-rolled ribbed steel 3. hot-rolled and then cold-twisted ribbed steel 4. cold-formed ribbed steel as well as welded reinforcing meshes of 5. flat wires 6. shaped wires 7. ribbed wires.

Welding of Reinforcing Steels

All steels of the DIN 488 or EN 10080 referred to are suitable for resistance flash-butt welding and oxyacetylene pressure welding. Suitability for electric arc welding using coated stick electrodes or the gas-shielded arc process is considered to have been demonstrated if the base metal ultimate strength is achieved in the tensile test and it is possible to bend butt welds around a required mandrel. Welds may be classified according to their intended use or the welding process employed. The principal distinction is between load-bearing and non-load-bearing welds. Welding Technology The steel surface in the area of the weld must be cleaned of dirt, grease, rust, etc. and there must be adequate access to the welding area. The weld area must exhibit a temperature of at least +5C and must be protected against cooling down too quickly after welding to reduce the risk of hardness increase in the transition zone. Filler Metals The following overview shows suitable BHLER filler metals: Reinforcing Steel grade DIN BSt 420 S BSt 500 S BSt 500 N EN B420N B500H B500N FOX SPE, FOX OHV, FOX MSU, EMK 6 FOX SPE, FOX OHV, FOX MSU, EMK 6 FOX EV 50, EMK 6 BHLER product

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Pre-stressed Reinforcing Steels

A high offset yield stress and apparent yield point plus high tensile strength are required of pre-stressed reinforcing steels to ensure there is little or no decrease in the pre-stressing of the concrete. Non-alloy CMn steel with 0.6 to 0.9 % C or steel similar to spring steel is used as a suitable material. Welding of pre-stressed reinforcing steels is not permitted.

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