How to Calculate Rebar Lengths

Rebar is used in construction projects to reinforce concrete.
••• Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Rebar, short for reinforcing bar, is a steel bar used to reinforce concrete and masonry structures. When dry and compressed, concrete may crack or break under tension without rebar. Rebar has steel ridges that attach to the concrete and help strengthen the concrete. Construction crew chiefs and project managers must calculate length, total weight and other parameters to support rebar cost estimates, billing and supply concerns as well as installation concerns. In fact, the total weight of rebar material is the end result relative to cost and the rebar length associated with each slab of concrete feed final weight calculations.

    Measure the entire length of the concrete slab. This is your slab length, or "SL." As an example, assume your SL is 50 feet.

    Calculate rebar length for the slab -- "RL" -- using the formula: RL = SL - 0.5 units. The 0.5 allows for sufficient clearance for fitting the rebar within the slab. The term "units" refers to the same units as the slab length. For example, if SL is 50 feet, RL = 50 feet - 0.5 feet = 49.5 feet.

    Repeat Step 1 and Step 2 for each slab to determine the RL associated with each slab. You will need 1 stick of rebar for every 8 inches of slab width.

Related Articles

How to Calculate Maximum Stress
How to Calculate Fastener Pullout
How to Size H-Beams
Rebar Size for Slabs
A Comparison of Steel Beams & Microlam Beams
How to Build a Strong & Stable Structure Project for...
How to Calculate Amount Per Square Foot
How to Measure Wood Density
How to Calculate Thermal Expansion of Steel
How to Calculate Allowable Stress in Steel
How to Convert a Load to PSI in a Tensile Test
How to Calculate the Spread Rate in Asphalt Paving
How to Make Roller Coasters for a Science Fair Project
How to Calculate Maximum Stress
How to Calculate Coining Tonnage
Properties of 1045 Steel
What Is the Cost of Metal Roofing?
How to Calculate the Area of Steel
Typical Costs of Asphalt Sealcoating

Dont Go!

We Have More Great Sciencing Articles!