The structural stability of buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure projects depends on steel bars. These steel bars are the foundation of every construction project. These steel bars enhance the tensile strength of concrete. In this way, they heightened the building and made it more robust.
You can call them the backbone of every building. These steel bars are prone to certain flaws and defects, which can affect their activity and can cause irreversible changes to any building. But there are solutions where these defects can be solved.
In this read, we are going to discuss those defects and see the solutions on how to avoid them. So let’s delve in and talk about them in detail.
Steel Bars and Their Rising Demand
Simply speaking steel bars are the solid bars of steel. Their ability to hold a building in one place for so many years is very much commendable. It is all because of these bars of steel that we see buildings like the Eiffel Tower and Burj Khalifa.
There has always been a rising demand for these steel bars as buildings are not a new innovation. They have been present for centuries. With the development and formation of new and new industries and factories, the demand for strong and reliable steel bars is on the rise.
Architects demand strong steel bars that have immense strength to hold a tall building.
Common Defects in Steel Bars
Steel bars, like any other material, are prone to flaws that could impair their structural integrity. As these materials are the backbone of every building. These steel rods are embedded with concrete and have an extreme tensile strength which makes them the perfect object to hold down a fort. Following are a few of the common types of defects; let’s discuss these common defects in steel bars.
Manufacturing Process
Most of the time many defects in a steel bar arise during its manufacturing process. The concentration of iron ore, scrap steel, and other raw materials matters a lot. A slight error in their quantity leads to a defective steel bar.
Other than that, most of the time the temperature of the furnace is not the required one. This does make a steel bar but the strength of that steel bar remains questionable. Surface cracks appear in steel bars that are highly dangerous. These surface cracks appear during the hot rolling process.
Material Quality
The material used in the making of a steel bar highly impacts the end product. The leftover impurities such as phosphorus and sulfur contaminate the steel bars and degrade their strength. This brings cracks in the steel bar and they won’t function up to their full potential.
Inconsistency in the chemical composition of substances is another reason behind the defects in the steel bars.
Handling Practices
This handling process is often neglected, and architects and labourers blame it on the steel bar manufacturers. However, it is one of the most crucial steps. Defects arise due to the improper handling and storage of steel bars. The bonds between the steel and concrete are weakened by scratches, dents, and other surface damage brought on by rough handling, falling, or scraping.
Other than that, steel bars also get weaker and less durable as a result of corrosion brought on by exposure to chemicals, moisture, or harsh climatic conditions.
So it matters a lot where these steel bars are stored. If steel bars are stored in a garage where moisture is present, they will get corroded. And even if you remove the corrosion, bacteria have already weakened your steel bars.
How to Avoid These Defects
For building projects to remain safe and long-lasting, it is essential to comprehend these flaws and put preventative measures in place. It is these solutions that extend the life of your steel bars.
Strict Quality Control Procedures
With the help of strict quality control procedures, you can make sure that the manufacturing process goes smoothly. It means that the temperature and the quantity of the mixture remain well balanced. Experts should be the ones doing this job and rechecking every single procedure and step in order to avoid these defects that can hinder the activity of steel bars.
Using the Right Amount of Raw Material
This is merely the task of the chemical engineers to keep a keen eye on the raw materials being used. It is crucial to look at their quantity as well as quantity to avoid any defect in the near future.
Hence, by using the right amount of raw materials, your steel bar remains as strong as you intended it to be and keeps your building as strong as a huge rock that never breaks.
Storing in a Dry Place
This is one of the most important and crucial aspects of your steel bar manufacturing and distribution journey. The way you store your steel bar states how important that piece of steel is to you.
By storing steel bars in a dry place, you keep rust and corrosion away from your steel bars, and they tend to live a long life. When steel bars don’t get rusted, their particles don’t break, and no cracks appear in them.
Final Words!
To sum up, steel bars are the cornerstone of your buildings. The stronger these bars are, the more strong your building stands. Some defects, such as excess raw materials and their quantity & quality, and handling practices, can hinder the complete functionality of these steel bars. While being cautious and mindful of the raw material quality, storing them in a dry place can extend their life.