Concrete has a reputation for being incredibly strong. While that is true when it comes to compression forces, it isn’t nearly as strong under tension. If enough tension is applied to the concrete, it can easily crack. Despite that, it is still one of the most useful and versatile building materials around. You can find it in everything from driveways and foundations to building walls and beams.
To make the concrete stable enough to use in applications like these, contractors use special steel reinforcing bars known as rebar. These steel bars help reinforce the concrete, providing extra strength to protect against cracking. The steel helps absorb the tension forces, keeping the concrete from cracking under the pressure. https://ellsenbendingmachine.com/automatic-rebar-bending-machine/
One of steel’s greatest benefits is its strength. Unfortunately, its strength also makes it quite difficult to bend. At construction sites, special automatic rebar bending machines are used to bend the bars for a wide range of applications.
For instance, imagine that workers are pouring a foundation. At each corner of the structure, the rebar needs to be bent to flow with the shape of the building. Using a rebar bending machine, workers can bend the rebar to the proper angle, helping to ensure that it provides the correct level of support.
Another application that commonly calls for rebar is bridge-building. Bridges are designed to span open areas, with very little support underneath. Without the addition of rebar, the tension forces the bridge is subjected to could easily crack the concrete. With rebar, however, the tension forces are absorbed by the steel, keeping the concrete from cracking. Usually, rebar in structures like these needs to be bent to specific shapes or specifications to meet the structural requirements of the project.
Curbs are also great examples of applications that rely on rebar to provide additional strength. The addition of the rebar helps keep the curbs from crumbling or cracking over time.
Concrete tunnels also rely on rebar, as do most other concrete highway elements. In essence, any structure or area where there is a lot of concrete could benefit from the use of rebar. This includes everything from sidewalks and driveways to giant bridges and piers. The rebar helps strengthen the concrete, reducing the chances of it cracking while at the same time increasing its strength.
Automatic rebar bending machines are useful in all of these situations. Workers can use the machines to bend the rebar into precise shapes. Using a machine provides much greater consistency than bending the rebar by hand.
Some rebar bending machines are small enough to be transported around to job sites. Others are much larger and are used in a warehouse or facility to bend rebar in advance. Either way, these machines make quick work of bending steel rebar.
They can usually be configured to create bends at just about any angle, making them a versatile tool to have when working with concrete. It is precisely because of their speed and versatility that so many concrete contractors rely on them today.