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Civil Engineering & Construction vocabulary · Concrete and Steel

Rebar

Meaning in civil engineering & construction, with examples

/ˈriːbɑːr/nounCore term

In civil engineering & construction, rebar means: Short for reinforcing bar: a steel bar with ribs on its surface, placed in concrete to resist tension and hold the concrete together.

In Turkish: inşaat demiri, donatı, nervürlü çelik

How it is used

Very common on site and in emails. Rebar is cut, bent, fixed and tied with wire; steel fixers place it according to the bar bending schedule. Sizes are given by diameter, such as 12 mm or Ø16 bars.

Example sentences

  1. The rebar for the raft has been delivered, but half of it is the wrong diameter.

  2. Please don't walk on the rebar mesh before the inspector has signed it off.

Common collocations

  • fix rebar
  • tie rebar
  • rebar cage
  • rebar spacing
  • bar bending schedule
  • reinforced concreteConcrete with steel bars or mesh cast inside it. The concrete resists compression and the steel resists tension, so together they make strong beams, slabs and columns.
  • concrete coverThe thickness of concrete between the surface and the nearest reinforcing bar. It protects the steel from corrosion and fire and helps it bond with the concrete.
  • formworkA temporary mould, usually made of timber, plywood or steel, that holds fresh concrete in the required shape until it is strong enough to support itself.
  • inspectionA formal check of work, materials or equipment to see whether it meets the drawings, specifications and safety rules before the next stage can start.
  • columnA vertical structural member that collects loads from the beams and slabs above and carries them down to the foundations.

More terms: Concrete and Steel

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