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Laboratory 5
Bend and Re-Bend Test of Steel Reinforcing Bar
1. Objective
Reinforcing bars in concrete elements functions as the component carrying tensile stresses after concrete
cracking. This is due to that fact that concrete exhibit very high compression strength combined with a very
low tensile capacity. The tensile stressed are transferred to the bars by the bond between the reinforcement and
the concrete. Bars are generally produced in strands 6 to 12 meter in length so that bending for transportation
and handling purposes becomes necessary. At the site bars are straightened, and then sometimes re-bent for
assembling purposes. This process will result in a loading and re-loading of steel.
After completion of this experiment, students should be able to
1.1 conduct bend test and re-bend test of steel reinforcing bars, and
1.2 analyse the nature of the test data and conclude about the ductility of the tested steel bar.
3. Experimental Procedure
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3.2 Guided-re-bend test of materials
3.2.1 Conduct guided-bend test through an angle of 90 round a mandrel with diameter not exceeding those
specified in Table 11;
3.2.2 Conduct artificial ageing treatment by placing the test specimen at a temperature of 10010 C for a
period of 1 hours (+15/-0) minutes.
3.2.3 Cool the specimens in still air to room temperature.
3.2.4 Bend back the test specimen towards its original shape (partially re-straightened) by a steadily applied
force through at least 20 on the same bending machine as used above.
3.2.5 Remove the load and detach the bar from the apparatus.
3.2.6 Repeat steps 3.2.1 to 3.1.5 to conduct bend tests of two other specimens of the same diameter.
4. Results
4.1 In accordance to the specified Standard (e.g., ASTM Standard E 290), observe the bend and re-bend
surface without any equipment (i.e., using naked eye) and inspected for cracks or chipping.
4.2 Give a general comment on the ductility of the tested steel bar.
4.3 Complete the Data Sheet, Table 3.1.
5. Discussion
5.1 Answer the following questions:
(a) Discuss the conditions upon which a steel reinforcing bar is failed a bend or re-bend test.
(b) Can you make comment on the tensile properties of the steel bar after the bend test?
(c) Why do you need the ageing treatment of bended bar before re-bending?
(d) What are the information needed to be specified in a typical bend/re-bend test of steel bar?
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Table 3.1(a): Data Sheet for Bend Test
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6.0 Theoretical Background
6.1 Introduction
The bend test consists of submitting a test piece of round, square, rectangular, or polygonal cross section to
plastic deformation by bending, without changing the direction of loading, until a specified angle of bend is
reached. This bend test is conducted for determining the ability of metallic materials to undergo plastic
deformation in bending.
Concrete reinforcing steel bars are generally produced in strands 6 to 12 meter in length so that bending for
transportation and handling purposes becomes necessary. At the site bars are straightened, and then sometimes
re-bent for assembling purposes. This process will result in a loading and re-loading of steel. Thus, bend and/or
re-bend test is necessary to gain information about the ductility of the steel bar. The following ASTM Standard
covers bend testing of bars primary for evaluation of their ductility: ASTM Standards E 290: Standard Test
Methods for Bend Testing of Material for Ductility
In the bend test procedure, ASTM E 290 Standard specifies four conditions of constraint on the bent portion of
the specimen:
1. a guided-bend test using a mandrel or plunger of defined dimensions to force the mid-length of the specimen
between two supports separated by a defined space,
2. a semi-guided-bend test in which the specimen is bent, while in contact with a mandrel, through a specified
angle or to a specified inside radius (r) of curvature, measured while under the bending force,
3. a free-bend test in which the ends of the specimen are brought toward each other, but in which no transverse
force is applied to the bend itself and there is no contact of the concave inside surface of the bend with
other material, and
4. a bend and flatten test, in which a transverse force is applied to the bend such that the legs make contact
with each other over the length of the specimen.
Off these, the guided-bend test method is the more popular for laboratory test. After bending, the convex
surface of the bend is examined with the unaided eye for evidence of a crack or other open defects or surface
irregularities. Bend tests for ductility provide a simple way to evaluate the quality of materials by their ability to
resist cracking or other surface irregularities during one continuous bend. While tests result will give a figure of
the materials ductility, it does not reflect on the material strength or its influence to material strength.
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Load
C = distance between lower supports = D + 3d 0.5d
D = diameter of the end of the mandrel or plunger
d = round specimen diameter
Support
c
Support
(a) (b)
Figure 1: (a) Schematic fixture for the guided-bend test, (b) Bar after testing
(a) (b)
(c)
Figure 2: (a) Bars prior to testing, (b) Bars bend at 180, (c) Observation after testing.
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Table 1: Mandrel diameter for bend test.
Nominal Size (mm) Mandrel Diameter (mm) for Different Grades of Steel Bars, D
of Bar, d 40 Grade 60 Grade 500 W TMT 600 W TMT
Up to and including 20 3d 4d 3d 5d
Over 20 4d 5d 4d 6d
6.4 Evaluation
After bend test the convex surface of the bent specimen is examined for cracks or other open defects, using the
unaided eye (without magnification). Cracks occurring in the corners or edge of the bent portion shall not be
considered significant unless they exceed the size specified for corner cracks. If no crack size is specified, corner
cracks not exceeding the nominal thickness of the specimen shall not be considered a failure.
When the test is conducted as an acceptance criterion, the allowable crack size shall be specified by the code or
specification requiring the test. Surface irregularities, loss of coating adherence, or other discontinuity
developed by the bend test shall be evaluated according to the appropriate product specification. Surface
disturbances, such as orange peel, that develop during a bend test, where there is no penetration of the surface,
are not considered a crack failure.
However, one should keep in mind that upon bending process steel reinforcement may fracture owing to the
following reasons:
(i) The ribs on steel bars serve as location of stress concentration which is a potential weak point for
fracturing.
(ii) Owing to their intrinsic high strength, large force is required during the bending process.
(iii) The radius of bending is too tight.
Temperature is also an important factor for controlling the risk of steel fracture. The risk of fracture is increased
when there is a drop of temperature because steel has lower toughness at low temperatures.
The bend test report normally contains the following information:
1. Specimen identification,
2. Size and type of specimen,
3. Type of test,
4. Radius used to form the bend,
5. Angle of bend,
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6. Number and size of any visible cracks in the bend, and when the test is conducted for informational
purposes, report the size and location of any and all cracks visible to the unaided eye,
7. Whether the specimen passed or failed to meet the requirements.
Nominal Size (mm) Mandrel Diameter (mm) for Different Grades of Steel Bars, D
of Bar, d 40 Grade 60 Grade 500 W TMT 600 W TMT
Up to and including 10 5d 5d 7d 7d
Over 10 7d 7d 8d 7d