The Smart Choice for Construction: Steel or Fiberglass rebar?

The-Smart-Choice-for-Construction

Steel has long been a fundamental player in the construction industry. But, with recent developments, fiberglass reinforced rebar is gaining popularity with contractors throughout the world. The diversity in its applications plus the increased cost of steel have made it a go to choice for contractors and professionals worldwide. Especially in bridges, roads, and structures where water is consistently present. The modern infrastructure community is no longer reliant on just metals like steel, aluminum and iron. From its first inception, glass reinforced fiber has come a long way. The reasons below are great indicators as to how GFRP rebar can permanently accommodate the construction industry and offer excellent benefits.

Steel Vs GFRP

It’s non-corrosive. It can last up to 100 years without losing its molecular integrity. It can withstand chemical attacks and moisture proves non-fatal, unlike steel.

It’s lightweight. It is 1/4th the weight of regular steel which helps contractors deliver projects on time. Due to its weight, workers can easily transport it and engineers can install it effortlessly.

Compared to steel and other metals, its flexural strength is greater. It’s non conductive and thermally insulating. It can lower costs by cutting down on the workforce, decrease installation charges, diminish the need for maintenance and outlives many metals. Its transparent to radio waves and other transmissions making office network, for example, more dependably connected. It has a high threshold of bearing impacts so damage is minimized while loading or unloading material.

Properties of GFRP

Glass fibers and polyester resin are synthesized which is created by the immersion of both fibers. Each offers the other an exponential amount of support that would never be achieved if both were standing alone. This hybrid mixture, with high tensile strength, has been profusely studied with various techniques in the civil engineering sector. It has been found that the strain rate increase change is the outcome of materials significantly increasing the strength of the material. This unique mix of composites give it excellent fatigue characteristics plus many other properties like low axial eco efficiency to expansion and electrically neutral, to name a few.

Durable and reliable, many harsh climates can take advantage of it. It is only recently that such interest has been seen in GFRP rebar and it could be due to the limitation of resources or circumstance, it has become a serious part of concrete structures around the world. From Russia to Japan and all the way back to North America, it has been incorporated successfully and as needs grow, so will the industry.

TUF-BAR is a proud manufacturer of Fiberglass rebar and accessories. With headquarters and production facilities in Canada, we also operate out of the United States as well. We take pride in being a pioneer in the fiberglass industry.