How To Identify Top Quality Tmt Steel Bars For Building Construction

by ARS Steel

Be it a dream home or a super mall, using only the best TMT steel bars for its safety and longevity goes without saying. For which you need TMT steel bars that will hold the concrete blocks together and maintain the structure of your building for years to come. Precisely why, the first step for ensuring your doing so is choosing the right steel distributor.

Choosing substandard bars from the market can be a cheaper option but it comes with costly after-effects. Always choose TMT steel bars from trusted steel distributors so that quality of the steel bars is never compromised.

A Few Reminders When Buying TMT Steel Bars:

TMT Grade

Higher the grade of the TMT bar, better the quality. There are different grades of TMT bars available in India – TMT Fe 500, Fe-550D, Fe-550, and Fe-600. The TMT steel bars can be used according to the space / area of construction. When compared to lower-grade TMT bars like 500D, high-grade TMT bars like 550D have greater yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation. As a result, high-grade TMT bars are better suited for usage in massive and tall constructions since they are more resilient and able to handle greater stress and pressure. Smaller residential buildings and other structures with fewer load-bearing needs can use low-grade TMT bars like 500D.

Tensile Strength & Ductility

The TMT steel bars need to be ductile enough so that it could be bent to suit your requirements as well as strong enough to withstand the weight and pressure that it would be subjected to after construction. Top quality TMT steel bars such as ARS TMT steel bars are strong enough to avoid cracks, even when they are bent at an angle of 90 degrees or more.

Bar Elongation & Ductility

Steel ductility and elongation capability are closely related properties that describe a material's ability to deform under stress without breaking. Ductility is the extent to which a material can be deformed without fracturing, while elongation is the amount of deformation a material undergoes before it breaks.

The elongation capability of steel is influenced by various factors, including its chemical composition, microstructure, and processing conditions. In general, steels with higher levels of carbon and other alloying elements tend to have lower ductility and elongation due to their greater strength and hardness. Conversely, steels with lower carbon and alloying element contents are more ductile and have higher elongation.

Corrosion Resistance

TMT steel bars are bound to encounter moisture during construction. Substandard bars can easily rust and corrode which would weaken the structure. So ensure to use only top quality TMT steel bars that are corrosion-resistant and moisture-resistant from trusted steel distributors.

Branding And Manufacturers Reputation

Always ensure the manufacturer’s seal is present on every metre of the TMT steel bar. The brand’s logo should also be engraved on every bar. Ensure that all TMT steel bars in the bundle are of equal length and thickness.

Check For Three Distinct Rings When The Cut Ends Of TMT Steel Bars Are Etched:

1) A tempered outer ring of martensite

2) A semi-tempered middle ring of martensite and bainite

3) A mild circular core of bainite, ferrite, and pearlite

Your structure is only as good as the TMT steel bars you use for its construction. Always choose strong and long-lasting TMT steel bars from trusted steel distributors such as ARS TMT steel bars. Which would help you build a dream structure with zero compromise and a lot of pride.

Are you just starting construction?

You will be able to save money and avoid last-minute concessions if you make the prudent choice to inspect the quality of the building materials before you begin construction.

From a safety standpoint, since TMT bars form the foundation of the construction, it is imperative to examine their quality. 

Main Test to Check the Quality of TMT Bars

Here are several tests you may run to make sure the TMT bars you buy are of high quality.

1. Flexibility and endurance under stress.

The TMT bars you choose must be both strong and flexible so they can be bent to your specifications during construction and robust enough to withstand all the weight and pressure placed on them for many years to come. 

Poor-quality bars will eventually begin to fail, endangering people and their possessions. A high-grade TMT rod won’t crack even when bent at an angle of 90 degrees or more, so be sure to pay attention to this aspect.

2. Stress Test for Yield

There are a few queries like, “What level of tension can the material withstand?” When does plastic deformation begin? During the yield stress exam, solutions to these kinds of problems can be found.

Until the yield point, the material will bend elastically before returning to its initial shape once the stress is released. The material can be highly categorized into two main classifications namely brittle and ductile.

Within the category of ductile materials, steel and aluminum frequently fail. Cast iron and glass, on the other hand, belongs to the category of brittle materials. Eventually, the stress-strain curve can be simultaneously used in comparing the two major portions. 

3. Run in terms of mass per meter.

Cut samples from several bundles that are at least 4 bars long and 1 meter long. Measure the length of any cut bars by taking an average measurement along at least four sides. On the scale, weigh the bar, and note the result in the register. 

Determine the real average weight for at least 3 samples per meter of the bar. The outcome can be compared to the theoretical weight specified in IS 1786. Verify whether the weight variation is within the allowed range according to IS specifications.

4. Chemical composition

Chemical composition testing is done in a spectrometer to perform a chemical test on the 26 elements that make up the TMT bar. The test of the chemical composition takes a few seconds, and the results of the composition are given in the printed form.

It is done to figure out the carbon, phosphorus, and sulfur ratios. Further, to determine the quantity of the copper, manganese, and chromium, a spectrometer can be initially used.

5. Bend Test

Bend the bar 180 degrees and see the rebar’s reaction. It shouldn’t break or shatter as a result.

6. Rebend Test

Bend the bar at a 135-degree angle and watch the rebar’s reaction. It should spend 30 minutes in 100°C hot water. Next, bend at a 157.5° angle and watch the rebar’s reaction. The result is that the bar must bend without cracking.

Final Words

Concluding, it is to say that the largest steel companies in India carry out these tests on their TMT bars to guarantee the strength and quality of the steel they offer. It is therefore recommended to get steel bars from renowned and trustworthy businesses that test their TMT bars to ascertain their quality.